Outcomes of Outpatient Rehabilitation of an Elderly Female After A Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Case Report
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Start Date
4-12-2019 4:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2019 6:00 PM
Abstract
Background/purpose: Low back pain is a highly prevalent cause of disability in adult populations, sometimes resulting in surgery if the pain becomes too severe. Patients affected vary in age, but more elderly patients (65 or older) are receiving spinal surgeries due to increased longevity and functional levels. Limited research exists on the impact of level of function and surgical outcomes in the elderly populations. The purpose of this case report was to examine the outcomes of an elderly woman’s outpatient rehabilitation after an L4-L5 spinal fusion, 2 months after receiving surgical intervention. Case Description: The patient was a 68 year-old female who received an L4-L5 spinal fusion after an acute injury that occurred while she was changing her clothes. Prior to surgery she experienced loss in strength in the right lower extremity and severe pain that impaired her ability to ambulate. After surgery, she regained some lower extremity strength, but pain and weakness persisted, leading her to seek outpatient physical therapy. Interventions focused on pain control, strengthening, lumbar stability, and functional movements. Outcomes: The patient completed ten outpatient physical therapy sessions for the duration of this case report. Her treatments occurred over a four-week period. She demonstrated gross improvements in lower extremity strength as well as improvements in the Modified Oswestry Disability Index, with a 14% improvement in reported function (MDC 10%). Overall, after four weeks of outpatient rehabilitation, the patient reportedthat she felt like she was 95% back to her prior functional level. Discussion: This case report demonstrated a positive outcome from physical therapy interventions that were not initiated until 2 months post spinal surgery. The importance of maintaining physical activity with increased age is noted as this patient was very active prior to surgery. More research is required to validate the importance of increase functional levels, especially before spinal surgeries in the elderly to improve surgical outcomes.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Dr. Dale Schuit
Outcomes of Outpatient Rehabilitation of an Elderly Female After A Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Case Report
Background/purpose: Low back pain is a highly prevalent cause of disability in adult populations, sometimes resulting in surgery if the pain becomes too severe. Patients affected vary in age, but more elderly patients (65 or older) are receiving spinal surgeries due to increased longevity and functional levels. Limited research exists on the impact of level of function and surgical outcomes in the elderly populations. The purpose of this case report was to examine the outcomes of an elderly woman’s outpatient rehabilitation after an L4-L5 spinal fusion, 2 months after receiving surgical intervention. Case Description: The patient was a 68 year-old female who received an L4-L5 spinal fusion after an acute injury that occurred while she was changing her clothes. Prior to surgery she experienced loss in strength in the right lower extremity and severe pain that impaired her ability to ambulate. After surgery, she regained some lower extremity strength, but pain and weakness persisted, leading her to seek outpatient physical therapy. Interventions focused on pain control, strengthening, lumbar stability, and functional movements. Outcomes: The patient completed ten outpatient physical therapy sessions for the duration of this case report. Her treatments occurred over a four-week period. She demonstrated gross improvements in lower extremity strength as well as improvements in the Modified Oswestry Disability Index, with a 14% improvement in reported function (MDC 10%). Overall, after four weeks of outpatient rehabilitation, the patient reportedthat she felt like she was 95% back to her prior functional level. Discussion: This case report demonstrated a positive outcome from physical therapy interventions that were not initiated until 2 months post spinal surgery. The importance of maintaining physical activity with increased age is noted as this patient was very active prior to surgery. More research is required to validate the importance of increase functional levels, especially before spinal surgeries in the elderly to improve surgical outcomes.