Health related quality of life outcomes following surgery and/or radiation for patients with potentially unstable spinal metastases

BACKGROUND: Currently there is no prospective pain and health related quality of life (HRQOL) data of patients with potentially unstable spinal metastases who were treated with surgery ± radiation or radiation alone. METHODS: An international prospective cohort multicenter study of patients with potentially unstable spinal metastases, defined by a SINS score 7 to 12, treated with surgery ± radiation or radiotherapy alone was conducted. HRQOL was evaluated with the numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score, the SOSGOQ2.0, the SF-36, and the EQ-5D at baseline and 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 136 patients were treated with surgery ± radiotherapy and 84 with radiotherapy alone. At baseline, surgically treated patients were more likely to have mechanical pain, a lytic lesion, a greater median Spinal Instability Neoplastic score, vertebral compression fracture, lower performance status, HRQOL, and pain scores. From baseline to 12 weeks post-treatment, surgically treated patients experienced a 3.0-point decrease in NRS pain score (95% CI −4.1 to −1.9, p<.001), and a 12.7-point increase in SOSGOQ2.0 score (95% CI 6.3–19.1, p<.001). Patients treated with radiotherapy alone experienced a 1.4-point decrease in the NRS pain score (95% CI −2.9 to 0.0, p=.046) and a 6.2-point increase in SOSGOQ2.0 score (95% CI −2.0 to 14.5, p=.331). Beyond 12 weeks, significant improvements in pain and HRQOL metrics were maintained up to 52-weeks follow-up in the surgical cohort, as compared with no significant changes in the radiotherapy alone cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with surgery demonstrated clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain and HRQOL up to 1-year postsurgery. Treatment with radiotherapy alone resulted in improved pain scores, but these were not sustained beyond 3 months and HRQOL outcomes demonstrated nonsignificant changes over time. Within the SINS potentially unstable group, distinct clinical profiles were observed in patients treated with surgery or radiotherapy alone.