Adult measures of general health-related quality of life after thoracolumbar trauma

Study designSystematic review.ObjectiveThe aim of the present review is to assess the main outcomes of patients who underwent interventions to treat thoracolumbar fracture.Summary of background dataIn the literature, the parameters most commonly used to assess treatment success have been radiographic measurements, evolution of the kyphosis curve, and subjective parameters such as pain scores. Measures of quality of life and function, such as the Short-form 36 (SF36), Short-form 12 (SF12), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) protocols, as well as the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire, are more frequently used and helpful to evaluate the effectiveness (benefits and harms) of treatment.MethodsThis study is a literature review of studies that assess the quality of life and function of patients with thoracolumbar fracture.ResultsThe search strategy resulted in 111 published studies. Based on the analysis of the titles of these studies, 52 were selected for abstract evaluation. After evaluating the abstracts, 25 were included in the present review.ConclusionThe use of assessment questionnaires that utilize subjective parameters should be encouraged and increasingly used to aid in the selection of the therapeutic modalities that will provide the best clinical–functional outcomes, and a quality of life as close to normal as possible.