• Philipp Krauss, Feline Reinartz, Clara Sonnleitner, Martin Vazan, Florian Ringel, Bernhard Meyer, and Hanno S Meyer.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
• Spine. 2022 Jun 15; 47 (12): 849-858.

Study DesignWe performed a prospective nonblinded single center observational study.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between expectations, outcome, and satisfaction with the outcome in patients undergoing cervical spine stabilization surgery.Summary Of Background DataIn modern healthcare, patient-reported outcome measures and patient satisfaction have become an important aspect of quality control. Therefore, outcome benchmarks for specific diseases are highly desired. Numerous studies have investigated patient-reported outcome measures and what constitutes satisfaction in degenerative lumbar spine disease. In cervical spine surgery, it is less clear what drives the postoperative symptom burden and patient satisfaction and how this depends on the primary diagnosis and other patient factors.MethodsThis was a prospective, single center, observational study on patients undergoing cervical spine stabilization surgery for degenerative disease, trauma, infection, or tumor. Using the visual analogue scale for neck and arm pain, the neck disability index (NDI), the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Score (mJOA) and patient-reported satisfaction, patient status and expectations before surgery, at discharge, 6 and 12 months after surgery were evaluated.ResultsOne hundred five patients were included. Score-based outcome correlated well with satisfaction at 6 and 12 months. Except for low NDI expectations (≥15 points) that correlated with dissatisfaction, expectations in no other score were correlated with satisfaction. Expectations did influence the outcome in some subgroups and meeting expectations resulted in higher rates of satisfaction. Pain reduction plays an important role for satisfaction, independently from the predominant symptom or pathology.ConclusionSatisfaction correlates well with outcome. Meeting expectations did influence satisfaction with the outcome. The NDI seems to be a valuable preoperative screening tool for poor satisfaction at 12 months. In degenerative pathology, pain is the predominant variable influencing satisfaction independently from the predominant symptom (including myelopathy).Level Of Evidence5.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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