Health-Related Quality of Life and Return to Work after Surgery for Spinal Schwannoma: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Simple Summary: Spinal schwannomas are the second most common primary intradural spinal tumor. Although these tumors are histologically benign, they can cause spinal cord compression with acute or chronic neurological deficits. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can be described as quality of life relative to a person's health or disease status and HRQoL measures may therefore be considered as measures of self-perceived status. Despite the fact that some studies have evaluated the neurological outcomes after surgery for spinal schwannomas, no studies have been conducted on HRQoL and return to work after surgery. In this population-based cohort study, 94 cases of surgically treated spinal schwannomas were followed for a median 7.3 years [4.8–10.6] to assess their HRQoL compared to a sample of the general population. We found that HRQoL was equal between the spinal schwannoma sample and the general population sample in all but one dimension; men in the spinal schwannoma sample reported more moderate problems in the usual activities dimension than men in the general population. The frequency of return to work was 94%. Thus, surgery of spinal schwannomas should be considered a safe procedure with good long-term HRQoL. Spinal schwannomas are the second most common primary intradural spinal tumor. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the frequency of return to work after the surgical treatment of spinal schwannomas. HRQoL was compared to a sample of the general population. Patients operated for spinal schwannomas between 2006 and 2020 were identified in a previous study and those alive at follow-up (171 of 180) were asked to participate. Ninety-four (56%) responded and were included in this study. Data were compared to the Stockholm Public Health Survey 2006, a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of the general population. An analysis for any potential non-response bias was performed and showed no significant differences between the groups. HRQoL was equal between the spinal schwannoma sample and the general population sample in all but one dimension; men in the spinal schwannoma sample reported more moderate problems in the usual activities dimension than men in the general population (p = 0.020). In the schwannoma sample, there were no significant differences between men and women in either of the dimensions EQ-5Dindex or EQVAS. Before surgery, a total of 71 (76%) were working full-time and after surgery almost all (94%) returned to work, most of them within 3 months of surgery. Eighty-nine (95%) of the patients responded that they would accept the surgery for their spinal schwannoma if asked again today. To conclude, surgical treatment of spinal schwannomas is associated with good HRQoL and with a high frequency of return to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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