Expanding the indications for measurement of objective functional impairment in spine surgery: A pilot study of four patients with diseases affecting the spinal cord

Gregor Fischer; Vincens Kälin; Oliver P Gautschi; Oliver Bozinov; Martin N Stienen

doi:10.1016/j.bas.2022.100915

Expanding the indications for measurement of objective functional impairment in spine surgery: A pilot study of four patients with diseases affecting the spinal cord

Brain Spine. 2022 Jul 20:2:100915. doi: 10.1016/j.bas.2022.100915. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Gregor Fischer¹, Vincens Kälin¹, Oliver P Gautschi², Oliver Bozinov¹, Martin N Stienen¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery & Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland.
² Neuro- and Spine Center, Hirslanden Clinic St. Anna, Lucerne, Switzerland.

Abstract

•The TUG test and the 6WT are feasible to apply in ambulatory patients with spinal cord affection.•The objective measurement of functional impairment resembled the functional status of four patients in this pilot study.•The TUG test and the 6WT may detect and quantify functional decline and/or improvement resulting from spinal cord affection.•Modern smartphone app-based technology may help to accurately quantify impairment, which is key for decision-making and evaluating the efficacy of interventions.

Keywords: Myelopathy; Objective functional impairment; Objective outcome measure; Spinal cord disease; Spinal cord herniation; Spinal cord tumor.