The Role of Frailty and Sarcopenia in Predicting Major Adverse Events, Length of Stay and Reoperation Following En Bloc Resection of Primary Tumours of the Spine

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Objective: En bloc resection for primary tumours of the spine is associated with a high rate of adverse events (AEs). The objective was to explore the relationship between frailty/sarcopenia and major perioperative AEs, length of stay (LOS), and unplanned reoperation following en bloc resection of primary spinal tumours. Methods: This is a unicentre study consisting of adult patients undergoing en bloc resection for a primary spine tumor. Frailty was calculated with the modified frailty index (mFI) and spine tumour frailty index (STFI). Sarcopenia was quantified with the total psoas area/vertebral body area ratio (TPA/VB) at L3 and L4. Univariable regression analysis was used to quantify the association between frailty/sarcopenia and major perioperative AEs, LOS and unplanned reoperation. Results: 95 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mFI and STFI identified a frailty prevalence of 3% and 18%. Mean CT TPA/VB ratios were 1.47 (SD ±.05) and 1.83 (SD ±.06) at L3 and L4. Inter-observer reliability was.93 and.99 for CT and MRI L3 and L4 TPA/VB ratios. Unadjusted analysis demonstrated sarcopenia and mFI did not predict perioperative AEs, LOS or unplanned reoperation. Frailty defined by an STFI score ≥2 predicted unplanned reoperation for surgical site infection (SSI) (P