OUTCOME ASSESSMENT IN SPINAL INFECTIONS

The importance of outcome studies in patients undergoing spinal surger y is discussed. There are numerous questionnaires used to assess quali ty of life results in orthopedic patients. This suggests disagreement and difficulty in the assessing and comparing outcomes. Several of the se instruments for assessing outcome are reviewed. Postoperative spina l infection can prolong a patients recovery from spinal surgery and ex acerbate symptoms of lower back pain. A review of the authors' patient s at 3 years followup suggests that outcome with postoperative infecti ons was similar to other patients with low back pain undergoing fusion without postoperative infectious complications.