For a study, researchers looked at postoperative problems and recovery patterns after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) surgery in different modified 11-item frailty index (MFI-11) groups. The link between the MFI-11 score and LLIF surgery was never studied before. About 150 patients present in the current study were grouped according to their mFI-11 score: 0 (n=39), 0.09 (n=69), 0.18 (n=31), and ≥0.27 (n=13). The MFI-11 score ≥0.27 acted as a significant predictor of urinary complications (adjusted odds ratio: 3.829, P=0.013). It was about 2 years postoperatively, almost all the patients in all frailty categories experienced improvements in the VAS for leg pain, VAS for back pain, and ODI, without any significant differences between the four groups which included (p=0.182, 0.121, and 0.804, respectively). Also, there were no significant differences between the four groups in the proportions of patients reaching SCB for back/leg pain or the ODI (P=0.843, 0.957, and 0.915, respectively).
In patients who had LLIF, an MFI-11 score was observed to be independently related to urologic problems. At 1 year and 2 years after surgery, patients in all frailty categories showed significant improvements in back pain, leg pain, and the ODI. Patients with a high frailty index may benefit from LLIF surgery.
Reference:journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2022/03010/The_Modified_11_Item_Frailty_Index_and.5.aspx
