Abstract
Quality of Life Assessment in Patients Treated Surgically for Infectious Spondylodiscitis
Author(s): Yosr El Mabrouk*, Leila Rouached, Adnene Ben Ammou, Seddik Akermi, Ahmed Ben Abid, Mohamed Ben SalahIntroduction: Studies reporting outcomes after surgical treatment of Infectious Spondylitis (ISPD) are rare. The aim of our study was to assess function and quality of life in patients treated for spondylodiscitis.
Methods: This was a monocentric, cross-sectional study, carried out in an orthopedic department. This study included 36 patients treated surgically for ISPD. All sociodemographic, clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic data were recorded. Quality of life was assessed using self-administered questionnaires: SF36 score (Medical outcome study short form-36), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD).
Results: The study population consisted of 36 patients cured of IPSD with a gender ratio (M/F) of 1.57. The average age of the patients was 56 years old. All patients received associated surgical treatment. The mean SF36 score was 65. The mean ODI score was 10.8 ± 8.1. The mean PCS score was 15.2 ± 12.4. The mean HAD score was 13.3 ± 9.7. The SF36 score was associated by its 3 domains: Psychic limitation, emotional wellbeing and energy/fatigue with the type of germs identified: p=0.019, p=0.027 and p= 0.017 respectively. The HAD score was associated with the presence of neuropathic pain (p=0.008). We found significant correlations between ODI and HAD (p=0.000, r=0.8) and PCS (p=0.000, r=0.8). The HAD was correlated with the PCS score: p=0.000, r=0.9.
Conclusion: The majority of patients cured of IPSD maintained a good quality of life. The type of germs responsible for the spinal infection could be linked to the deterioration of the quality of life later. The type of pain, the catastrophizing syndrome and the functional incapacity were the 3 predictive factors of psychiatric disorders in this population. This then requires appropriate monitoring and a timely alliance of the orthopedist and the psychiatrist.