Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improvement in Postoperative and Nonoperative Spinal Patients on a Self-Report Measure of Disability: The Spinal Function Sort (SFS)

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical utility of the Spinal Function Sort (SFS), in a group of postoperative and nonoperative low back pain patients who completed a functional restoration program. The SFS was administered to 38 spinal pain patients (16 nonoperative and 21 postoperative), before and after completing a functional restoration program. Results revealed that the SFS detected a significant improvement in Ratings of Perceived Capacity scores, and that the postoperative patients appeared to improve more than nonoperative patients. These findings demonstrate the clinical utility of the SFS as an effective assessment tool of functional capacity in both postoperative and nonoperative spinal disorder patients. It provides a time-efficient method for evaluating a patient's functional status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Deyo R, Diol M, Cherkin D, Loeser J, Bigos S. Lumber spinal fusion: A cohort study of complications, reoperations, and resource use in the Medicare population. Spine 1993; 18: 1463–1472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Franklin G, Haug J, Heyer N, McKeefrey S, Picciano J. Outcome of lumbar fusion in Washington State workers' compensation. Spine 1994; 19(17): 1897–1903.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Junge A, Frohlich M, Ahrens S, Hasenbring M, Sandler A, Grob D, Cvorak J. Predictors of bad and good outcomes of lumbar spine surgery. A prospective clinical study with 2 years' follow up. Spine 1996; 21(9): 1056–1064.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Nachemson A. Evaluation of results in lumbar spine surgery. Acta Orthop Scand 1993; 251(Suppl): 130–133.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Turner J, Ersek M, Herron L. Patient outcomes after lumbar spinal fusions. JAMA 1992; 268: 907–911.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Davis H. Increasing rates of cervical and lumbar spine surgery in the United States, 1979–1990. Spine 1994; 19(10): 117–1123.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bosacco S, Berman A, Bosacco D, Levenberg R. Results of lumbar disc surgery in a city compensation population. Orthopedics 1995; 18: 351–355.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hoffman R, Wheeler K, Deyo R. Surgery for herniated lumbar discs. A literature synthesis. J Gen Int Med 1993; 8: 487–496.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Atlas S, Deyo R, Keller R, Chapin A, Patrick D, Long K, Singer D. The main lumbar spine study, Part II. One year outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of sciatica. Spine 1996; 21(15): 1777–1786.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Christense F, Nielse B, Hansen E, Pilgaard S, Bunger C. Anterior lumbar intercorporal spondylodesis. Radiological and functional therapeutic results. Ugeskr Laeger 1994; 156(37): 5285–5289.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ciol M, Deyo R, Kreuter W, Bigor S. Characteristics in Medicare beneficiaries with reoperation after lumbar spine surgery. Spine 1994; 19(12): 1329–1334.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fiume D, Sherkat S, Callovini G, Parziale G, Gazzeri G. Treatment of the failed back surgery syndrome due to lumbo-sacral epidural fibrosis. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1995; 64(Suppl): 116–118.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bernard T. Repeat lumbar spine surgery. Factors influencing outcome. Spine 1993; 18(15): 2196–2200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Greenough C, Fraser R. The effects of compensation on recovery from low back injury. Spine 1989; 14: 947–955.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Yaksich I. Failed back surgery syndrome: Problems, pitfalls, and prevention. Ann Acad Med (Singapore) 1993; 22(3, Suppl): 414–417.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mayer TG, Prescott M, Gatchel RJ. Objective outcomes evaluation: Methods and evidence. In: Mayer TG, Gatchel RG, Polatin PB, eds. Occupational musculoskeletal disorders: Function, outcomes, and evidence. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Williams & Wilkins, 2000, pp. 651–670.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kishino N, Peter P, Brewer S, Hoffman K. Long-term effectiveness of combined spine surgery and functional restoration: A prospective study. J Occup Rehabil 2000; 10(3): 235–239.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ware J, Sherbourne C. The MOS 36–Item Short From Health Survey (SF-36). Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care 1992; 30(6): 473–480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. US Department of Health and Human Services. Acute low back problems in adults: Assessment and treatment, AHCPR Publication No. 9500643, Dec. 1994.

  20. Haider T, Kishino N, Gray T, Tomlin M, Daubert H. Functional restoration: Comparison of surgical and nonsurgical spine patients. J Occup Rehabil 1998; 8(4): 247–253.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mayer T, McMahon M, Gatchel R, Sparks B, Wright A, Pegues P. Socioeconomic outcomes of combined spine surgery and functional restoration in workers' compensation spinal disorders with matched controls. Spine 1998; 23: 598–606.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Frndak P, Berasi C. Rehabilitation concenrs following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Sports Med 1991; 12: 338–446.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Moffet H, Richard D, Malouin F, Bravo G, Paradis G. Early andintensive physiotherapy accelerated recovery post-arthroscopic meniscectomy: Results of a randomized controlled study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1994; 75: 415–426.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Noyes F, Mangine R, Barber S. Early knee motion after open arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 1987; 15: 149–160.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Shelbourne K, Nitz P. Accelerated reabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 1990; 19: 292–299.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kahanovitz N, Viola K, Gallagher M. Long-term strength assessment of postoperative discectomy patients. Spine 1980; 14: 402–403.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Manniche C, Skall H, Braendholt L, et al. Clinical trial of postoperative dynamic back exercises after first lumbar discectomy. Spine 1993; 18: 92–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mayer T, Gatchel R. Functional restoration for spinal disorders: The sports medicine approach. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Unites States Census Bureau. Statistical abstracts of the Unites States: 2000, Table No. 619, Persons with work disability by selected characteristics. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Matheson L, Gaudino E, Mael F, Hesse B. Improving the validity of the impairment evaluation process: A proposed theoretic framework. J Occup Rehabil 2000; 10(4): 311–320.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Matheson L, Kane M, Rodbard, D. Development of new methods to determine work disability in the United States. J Occup Rehabil 2001; 11(3): 143–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Matheson L, Mooney V, Grant J, Leggett S, Kenny K. Standardized evaluation of work capacity. J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil 1996; 6: 249–264.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Matheson LN, Matheson ML. Performance assessment and capacity testing spinal function sort: Rating of perceived capacity. Wildwood, MO: Employment Potential Improvement Corporation, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Matheson LN, Matheson ML, Grant J. Development of a measure of perceived functional ability. J Occup Rehabil 1993; 3(1): 15–30.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gibson L, Strong J. The reliability and validity of a measure of perceived functional capacity for work in chronic back pain. J Occup Rehabil 1996; 6(3): 159–175.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Mayer TG, Gatchel RJ. Functional restoration for spinal disorders: The sports medicine approach. Philadelphia: Lea & Febinger, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Mayer TG, Gatchel RJ, Mayer H, Kishino ND, Keeley J, Mooney V. A prospective two-year study of functional restoration in industrial low back injury: An objective assessment procedure. JAMA 1987; 258(13): 1763–1767.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Mayer TG, Gatchel RJ, Kishino ND, Kelley J, Capra P, Mayer H, Barnett J, Mooney V. Objective assessment of spine function following industrial injury: A prospective study with comparison group and one-year follow-up. Spine 1985; 10(6): 482–493.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Mayer T, Polatin P, Gatchel R. Functional restoration and other rehabilitation approaches to chronic musculoskeletal disability syndromes. Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med 1998; 10: 209–221.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hazard R, Fenwick J, Kalisch S. Functional restoration with behavioral support: A one year prospective study of patients with chronic low back pain. Spine 1989; 14: 157–161.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas

    Richard C. Robinson, Jennifer Unterberg, Cara Pearson, Laura Adams & Robert J. Gatchel

  2. West Coast Spine Restoration Center, Riverside, California

    Nancy Kishino, Scott Woods & Karin Hoffman

  3. The University of Washington, St. Louis, Missouri

    Leonard Matheson

Authors
  1. Richard C. Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nancy Kishino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leonard Matheson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Scott Woods
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Karin Hoffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jennifer Unterberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Cara Pearson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Laura Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Robert J. Gatchel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Robinson, R.C., Kishino, N., Matheson, L. et al. Improvement in Postoperative and Nonoperative Spinal Patients on a Self-Report Measure of Disability: The Spinal Function Sort (SFS). J Occup Rehabil 13, 107–113 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022551815461

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022551815461

Search

Navigation