Outcomes Assessment in Military Patients After Ultrarigid Lumbar Spinal Fusion

One of the difficulties in assessing effectiveness of new spinal fusion modalities is the lack of a consistent, reproducible measure of outcome. The Military Personnel System allows a reproducible series of assessment parameters by which clinical outcomes in spinal fusion may be consistently judged.

These include: continued duties in military occupational specialty (MOS), institution of a physical evaluation board (PEB), and passage of the Biannual Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT). We have applied these uniform standards in the evaluation of our combined pedicle screw/interbody cage fusions (ultrarigid fusions). We report on 21 consecutive ultrarigid lumbar fusions in active duty military personnel.

Surgeries were performed by a single attending neurosurgeon at a military medical center. Follow up periods range from 6–14 months with a mean of IO months. The patient population ranged from 26–61 years of age, and included smokers as well as non– smokers. Patients are seen in follow up at 6, 12, 24 and 52 weeks postoperatively.

At current follow up, 1/3 of patients are undergoing PEB which will remove them from Active Military Duty. Analysis of predictive factors and variables will be presented. Results and assesment parameters will be contrasted with those of comparable civilian series.