Evidence mapPaperPMID 40148981Full record

Observational studyJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

The impact of preoperative handgrip strength on postoperative outcomes following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Duy Nguyen Anh Tran, Yu-Pin Chen, Hui-En Lin, Tan Thanh Nguyen, Hoan Le Nguyen, Yi-Jie Kuo

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Preoperative BMI-adjusted sarcopenia defined by AWGS 2025 is associated with 1-year changes in the patient-reported outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Role of paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration in predicting adjacent segment disease after lumbar spinal fusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Duy Nguyen Anh Tran *The International PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Pin Chen *Department of Orthopedic surgery, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hui-En Lin *Department of Orthopedic surgery, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tan Thanh NguyenDepartment of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
Hoan Le NguyenDepartment of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
Yi-Jie KuoDepartment of Orthopedic surgery, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. benkuo5@tmu.edu.tw.

Funding

Wan Fang Hospital 113-wf-eva-08
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith an aging population, the prevalence of lumbar spinal diseases necessitating surgical intervention is increasing. Handgrip strength (HGS) has emerged as a simple measure of muscle function that may correlate with surgical outcomes. However, the role of HGS concerning postoperative recovery following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is not well-studied, highlighting a gap in the literature regarding its potential as a prognostic tool.

methodsThis prospective observational study included 89 patients who underwent TLIF performed by a single surgeon. Patients were categorized into normal and low HGS groups based on preoperative HGS measurements. Demographics, baseline HGS, and surgical details were recorded, and outcomes were assessed using the JOA, EQ-5D-3L, and Barthel Index at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to examine associations between baseline parameters and outcomes over time.

resultsAll patients were followed for at least one year, except for 15 (15.6%) who were lost to follow-up before the one-year mark. Patients with lower preoperative HGS were associated with significantly poorer postoperative functional outcomes. Specifically, a one-unit decrease in HGS was associated with a 2.551-point decrease in the JOA score (p = 0.008), a 0.142-point decrease in the EQ-5D-3L score (p = 0.007), and a 5.784-point decrease in the Barthel Index (p = 0.036). Additionally, male sex, higher body mass index, and lower Charlson comorbidity index were associated with better postoperative outcomes.

conclusionsLow preoperative handgrip strength is associated with poorer functional, quality of life, and independence outcomes up to 12 months after TLIF surgery. Assessing HGS preoperatively may provide clinicians with valuable information for identifying patients at risk of suboptimal recovery. Future research could explore intervention strategies to improve preoperative muscle function and potentially enhance recovery outcomes for patients undergoing TLIF.

Indexed as

Hand StrengthLumbar VertebraeSpinal FusionAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPreoperative PeriodProspective StudiesRecovery of FunctionTreatment OutcomeBarthel indexEQ-5D-3LHandgrip strengthJOASpine surgeryTransforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

Identifiers

PMID40148981
PMCPMC11951603

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.