Surgically treated spinal metastases: Do prognostic scores have a role?

BACKGROUND: The outcome for patients with metastatic disease in spine is difficult to predict. Multiple scoring systems were utilized in this study to determine their effectiveness in predicting long-term prognoses.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of surgically treated patients of spinal metastasis was performed between 2005 and 2016. Data were collected prospectively during which 8 patients were lost to follow-up. Ultimately, data from 63 patients were reviewed. Treatment and prognoses were analyzed utilizing various scoring systems including the SINS, the Tomita, the modified Tokouhashi and Bauer scores.

RESULTS: Records of 63 patients, averaging 54 years of age, were analyzed. The Tomita score was applied in 44 patients, a modified Bauer score was studied in 49 patients, while SINS and modified Tokouhashi scores were calculated in all 63 patients. The hazard ratios for the Tomita score were 1, 0.030, 0.622, and 0.272, respectively. The hazard ratios for the modified Bauer scores were 1, 4.663, and 1.622, respectively. The Tokouhashi ratios were 1, 1.656, and 0.501, respectively. Of interest, the Tomita scores provided the highest statistical significance (P = 0.000) followed by the Bauer (P = 0.002) and Tokuhashi scores (P = 0.003). Notably, the SINS score showed no significant correlation in predicting patient survival.

CONCLUSION: For evaluating the metastatic spine disease, this study evaluated the prognostic efficacy of four widely used scores: the Tomita, score, the modified Tokouhashi and Bauer scores, and the SINS scores. The Tomita scores provided the highest statistical significance, followed by the Bauer, and Tokuhashi scores, while the SINS score showed no significant correlation in predicting patient survival.