Artikel
Professional reintegration, activities of daily living and sports after spinal ependymoma resection – a single-centre experience with long-term follow-up
Berufliche Wiedereingliederung, sportliche Aktivitäten und Aufgaben des täglichen Lebens nach spinaler Ependymomresektion: eine monozentrische Studie mit Langzeit Follow-Up
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Veröffentlicht: | 25. Mai 2022 |
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Objective: Adult spinal ependymoma presents a rare tumor entity. Due to its incidence peak in the fourth decade of life, it mostly affects patients during a professionally and physically active time of life.
Methods: Monocentric analysis, including patients operated upon for spinal ependymoma between January 2009 and September 2020. We prospectively collected data on professional reintegration, physical activities and quality-of-life parameters using EQ-5D, SF-36 and free text questionnaires. Issues encountered in returning to work and physical activities were assessed using existing spinal-cord-specific questionnaires.
Results: Overall, 65 of 114 patients operated agreed to participate. Most patients suffered from only mild pre- and postoperative impairment on the modified McCormick scale, but 67% confirmed difficulties performing physical activities in which they previously engaged due to pain, coordination problems and fear of injuries. We detected a shift from full- to part-time employment and patients unable to work, independently from tumor dignity and neurological function.
Conclusion: Despite its slow growing nature and mostly mild formal neurological deficits, the studied population described severe difficulties returning to their preoperative physical activity and profession. Clinical scores such as the McCormick grade and muscle strength may not reflect the entire self-perceived impairment appropriately.