The morbidity and mortality rates following surgery in metastatic spine disease patients

Abstract

Background: Metastasis is one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Several studies have investigated the surgical outcome of a metastatic spine; however, the results are discordant. This research aims to study the mortality and morbidity rates of surgical intervention for metastatic spine disease and the predictors of postoperative complications in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted. The population consisted of patients who underwent surgical intervention for metastatic spine disease in a tertiary-care hospital from 2016 to 2020. The primary outcomes were intraoperative and postoperative complications, 30- day mortality, 90-day mortality, and the 1-year survival rates. Results: A total of 47 patients underwent a surgical intervention during the period. Breast cancer was the most frequent primary lesion for the metastasis, followed by multiple myeloma and lung cancer. Postoperative surgical complications occurred in 34% of the sample, and 41% reported marked neurological improvement following surgery. The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 2% and 12%, respectively. The overall one-year survival rate was 64%. Conclusion: The current study indicated that despite the risk and complexity of the surgical intervention to the metastatic spine, the surgery resulted in an acceptable rate of morbidity and mortality.