C5 palsy after posterior cervical decompression and fusion: cost and quality-of-life implications

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: C5 palsy is a debilitating postoperative complication of cervical decompression surgery. Although the prognosis is typically good, patients may be unable to perform basic activities of daily living, resulting in a decreased quality of life. No studies have investigated the quality-of-life and financial implications. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the impact on quality-of-life and costs of C5 palsy after posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF). STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A 2: 1 matched retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single tertiary-care institution between 2007 and 2012. PATIENT SAMPLE: Individuals who had undergone PCDF were included. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported: Euroqol-5 Dimensions quality-of-life survey. Physiologic: postoperative change in deltoid and biceps strength via manual muscle testing. Functional: cost of interventions and missed workdays postoperatively. METHODS: Individuals with postoperative C5 palsy were matched to controls based on age, gender, body mass index, and diagnosis. Demographic, operative, postoperative, quality-of-life, and cost data were collected for both the C5 palsy and control groups, with 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: We reviewed 245 patients who underwent PCDF and 17 were identified (6.9%) with C5 palsy and matched to 34 controls. No significant differences in demographic or operative characteristics were observed between groups. The C5 palsy group had a significantly reduced capacity for self-care in the immediate postoperative (2.0 +/- 0.71 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4, p<.001) and long-term (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4, p=.004) periods and a significantly reduced capacity for completion of usual activities (2.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.6, p=.014) compared with controls. Furthermore, the C5 group had a significantly greater cost of physical/occupational therapy, an increase of $2,078 ($4,386 +/-$2,801 vs. $2,307 +/-$ 1,907, p=.013). There were no significant differences between groups in the cost of hospital stay, surgery, or other direct or indirect costs. Overall, there was a significantly greater cost ($1,918) for the C5 palsy group compared with the control group ($7,584 +/-$3,992 vs. $5,666 +/-$2,359, respectively, p=.038). CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first quantification of the impact of C5 palsy on patients' quality of life and the associated costs for care. We found that C5 palsy adds a significant burden on patients' quality of life and presents a financial burden to the health-care system. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.