Quality of life and sociodemographic data in patients after spine surgery

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the quality of life and its correlation with sociodemographic data in patients after spine surgery and limb amputation relative to controls. Methods. The SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (questionnaire with eight domains and two subscales - Physical Component Summary scale (PCS) and Mental Component Summary scale (MCS)) was given to 52 patients after spine surgery because of chronic back pain and 41 patients after limb amputation. Thirty healthy people comprised the control group. In statistical analysis Kruskal-Wallis, U Mann-Whitney and Spearman tests were used. Results. In comparison to the control group, patients after spine surgery had worse results in all domains of SF-36, especially those who did not improve after surgery, were worse-educated, unemployed or taking more drugs. Patients after limb amputation achieved worse results in all domains of SF-36 and the PCS and the MCS score, in comparison to the control group. In seven domains of SF-36 there were no differences between patients after spine surgery and amputees, meanwhile in 1 domain (PF-physical functioning) patients after amputation had a worse score than those after spine operation. Conclusion. Patients after spine surgery need multidisciplinary care because of low quality of life, especially those who are poor-educated, unemployed and use more drugs. © Versita Sp. z o.o.