Return-to-Sport Rate, Type of Sport, Frequency of Participation, and Patient Satisfaction After Elective Spinal Surgery in the Elderly Population

Abstract

Background: The number of elderly sports participants is increasing, and the possibility of return to sport (RTS) has become an important part of surgical decision making in this population. Purpose: To investigate RTS after elective spinal surgery in elderly patients. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: We enrolled patients aged ≥65 years with a history of preoperative or preinjury sports participation who underwent elective spinal surgery at a single institution between 2019 and 2021. At minimum 12-month follow-up, a questionnaire was administered to each participant to assess postoperative RTS, timing of return, frequency and type of pre- and postoperative activities, and satisfaction (scored 1-10). Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, and regression models were developed to examine the influence of age and sex, as well as surgical site, on RTS. Results: A total of 53 patients (mean ± SD age, 73.8 ± 5.2 years; 24 women) were included, and 23 (43.4%) returned to sports at a median 6 months (interquartile range, IQR, 2-6 months). The RTS rate by surgical site was 17 of 34 (50%) for the lumbar spine and 6 of 17 (35.3%) for the cervical spine. There were no statistically significant differences in RTS rate by surgical site, age, or sex. Overall, 6 of 17 patients returned to golf, 4 of 6 to dance, 2 of 5 to swimming, and 1 of 5 to tennis. Of patients who returned, 34.8% participated in sports 5 times per week and 26.1% participated 3 times per week. The median satisfaction score after RTS was 8 (IQR, 6-9). Conclusion: RTS after spinal surgery was achieved in 43% patients at 1-year minimum follow-up, with high satisfaction scores. More than half of the returning patients participated in sports activities ≥3 times per week.