Ambulatory status after surgical and nonsurgical treatment for spinal metastasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Decisions for operative or nonoperative management remain challenging for patients with spinal metastases, especially when life expectancy and quality of life are not easily predicted. This study evaluated the effects of operative and nonoperative management on maintenance of ambulatory function and survival for patients treated for spinal metastases.

Methods

Propensity matching was used to yield an analytic sample in which operatively and nonoperatively treated patients were similar with respect to key baseline covariates. The study included patients treated for spinal metastases between 2005 and 2017 who were 40 to 80 years old, were independent ambulators at presentation, and had fewer than 5 medical comorbidities. It evaluated the influence of operative care a

SUBMITTER: Schoenfeld AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625859 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature