Correlations between preoperative clinical factors and treatment outcome of spinal meningiomas – A retrospective study of a series of 31 cases

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study is to identify the correlations between the most important preoperative clinical factors and the outcome of surgery of spinal meningiomas (SM). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical history, clinical, paraclinical, neuroimaging, and surgical protocol data in 31 patients with SM who underwent surgical resection at our institution from January 2011 to July 2020. The degree of resection was assessed on the Simpson scale. The modified McCormick scale was used to monitor the effect and outcome of treatment at admission, discharge, and at further follow-up. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 65 years (37-78). Vertebral pain and motor deficits were the most common initial symptoms that occurred in 26 (89.6%) and 29 (93.5%) patients, respectively. Sphincter disorders were found in 9 (29%) patients. Total resection (Simpson Grade I – II) was achieved in 29 patients (93.5%). We achieved a favorable outcome (McCormick Gr. I to III) in 93.3% of patients. The degree of the neurological deficit (P = 0.026) and the presence of sphincter disorders (P = 0.009) were the preoperative clinical factors that most significantly correlated with the outcome of treatment. CONCLUSION: The outcome from the surgical treatment of SM correlated significantly with the degree of the preoperative neurological deficit. Therefore, patients presenting with more severe symptoms are expected to have worse outcomes.