Introduction: This study aims to investigate the effects of preoperative serum transthyretin (TTR)
levels on surgical success, pain scores, and postoperative morbidity. Methods: Note that, in our clinic, 188 patients who were operated for spinal pathologies between
June 2010 and January 2011 were included in this study. Blood samples were drawn from
all patients on the morning of surgery, and then, serum TTR measurements were made.
Demographic data of all patients were collected, and then their preoperative and postoperative
neurological examinations, Karnofsky scores, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry
disability index (ODI) scores, postoperative infection and wound healing status, hospital
stay, and morbidity levels were recorded, and TTR levels were compared. Results: When preoperative TTR level of patients was low, their Karnofsky scores decreased,
ODI scores increased, the early postoperative VAS and late postoperative VAS values
increased, and the length of hospital stay was increased. Moreover, in patients with
low TTR levels, postoperative Karnofsky scores were lower, postoperative ODI levels
were higher, postoperative early and late VAS scores were higher, hospital stays were
longer, peroperative complication rates were higher, wound infection rates were higher,
the delay in wound site healing was higher, and the morbidity rate was higher. Conclusion: Consequently, preoperative low TTR levels have been reported to be an effective parameter
that can be used to predict surgical results, wound infection and wound site healing
status, perioperative complications, and morbidity in spinal surgery.
Key-words:
Spinal surgery - surgical results - transthyretin
