A 3-Year Study Investigating the Utility of PROMIS-29 for Long-Term Follow-Up in Adult Spinal Deformity

Background Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) significantly impacts the quality of life due to three-dimensional spinal abnormalities. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), such as the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29), play a crucial role in assessing post-operative outcomes. This study aims to investigate trends in PROMIS-29 scores over 36 months in patients undergoing long-segment thoracolumbar fusion for ASD and provide insights into its long-term utility. Methods A retrospective study including 163 ASD patients undergoing long-segment thoracolumbar fusion was conducted. PROMIS-29 scores were collected at baseline and at post-operative (0-), 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, and 36-month follow-ups. Statistical analyses was performed to assess significant score changes from baseline and in consecutive recordings. Results Significant improvements in all PROMIS-29 categories were observed at 36 months, with the greatest changes in pain intensity (-35.19%, p<0.001), physical function (+29.13%, p<0.001), and pain interference (-28.8%, p<0.001). Between the 0 and 3 month mark, the greatest significant changes were recorded in pain intensity (-26.5%, p<0.001), physical function (+24.3%, p<0.001), and anxiety (-16.9%, p<0.018). However, scores plateaued after the 3-month mark, with zero categories showing significant changes with subsequent consecutive recordings. Conclusion PROMIS-29 scores demonstrated notable improvements in ASD patients particularly in pain intensity, pain interference, and physical function. However, scores plateaued beyond the 3-month mark, suggesting PROMIS-29’s limited sensitivity to nuanced changes in long-term patient recovery. Future investigations exploring optimal combinations of PROMs for comprehensive short and long-term outcome assessments in ASD surgery would be beneficial.