PHQ-9 Score Predicts Postoperative Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Objective: This study evaluates if an association exists between preoperative depression and postoperative outcomes following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). Summary of Background Data: Few studies have quantified preoperative depression symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to predict postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion, especially MIS TLIF. Methods: A surgical database of patients undergoing primary, single-level MIS TLIF was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by predefined preoperative PHQ-9 scores: no depression (<5), mild depression (5–9), and moderate to severe depression (≥10). Inpatient pain scores and narcotics use were recorded. Oswestry Disability Index, Veterans RAND-12 Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain scores were collected preoperatively and at 6-week, 12-week, and 6-month follow-up. One-way analysis of variance and χ 2 analysis determined if an association existed between PHQ-9 subgroups and baseline characteristics or perioperative outcomes. Multivariate linear regression assessed for an association between PHQ-9 and postoperative patient-reported outcomes. Results: In total, 94 patients were included. Patients with higher PHQ-9 scores were younger, obese, and carried workers’ compensation insurance. Higher PHQ-9 scores were associated with worse preoperative Oswestry Disability Index, Veterans RAND-12 Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score, and VAS back and leg pain scores. Patients with higher PHQ-9 reported greater inpatient VAS pain scores on postoperative day 0 and 1 and demonstrated greater hourly narcotics consumption on postoperative day 0. Furthermore, higher PHQ-9 scores exhibited less improvement in all patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: Patients with severe depression symptoms reported greater pain, increased narcotics consumption, and less clinical improvement after MIS TLIF. Therefore, patients with greater PHQ-9 scores should be monitored more closely and may benefit from additional counseling with regard to postoperative outcomes to better manage pain control and expectations of recovery.