Patient Outcomes
At Scoliosis Associates, we seek to constantly improve our treatment of our patients. One way we do this is to gather information on the outcomes, or results, of our treatments. We measure these outcomes by examining patients and by evaluating x-rays and patient questionnaires. X-rays provide us with information about the amount of curve correction following scoliosis and other types of operations. They also provide data on spinal balance, perhaps the most important x-ray parameter, the status of a spinal fusion and of spinal implants.
Questionnaires provide even more important information; they tell us how the individual patient feels he or she is doing. The SRS and Oswestry questionnaires are completed by our patients. They tell us about the patient’s pain level, function, self image, mental health, and satisfaction. These areas, afterall, are the reasons we treat patients for spinal disorders. The questionnaires are completed before surgery and at each follow-up visit after surgery so that comparisons can be made.
The outcomes from these questionnaires are studied in clinical research and published in the medical literature. This type of research provides guidance as we seek to improve our surgical techniques. For example, data from patient questionnaires has led us to perform more minimally invasive techniques for treating spinal disorders. These techniques allow us to fuse less segments of the spine, and create less disruption of patient anatomy.
Outcomes evaluation is the backbone of our treatment of patients. We want to know if our patients are satisfied with their treatment and if they feel that their quality of life is improved. Taken together with the other objective data, this helps us to seek improvements in our treatment that will help our patients.
