The AOSpine DegenPRO registry has collected an impressive 624 patients and is calling out for even more researchers across the globe to get involved to grow the international component. “DegenPRO is the platform by which we will perform prospective studies to answer important surgical questions,” AOSpine Knowledge Forum (KF) Degenerative Chairperson S. Tim Yoon says. The study aims to better understand spine degeneration and biologics used in degenerative cases, and to assess their effectiveness in terms of patient reported outcomes, complications, and fusion rates.

 

“We have been so focused on collecting data that we have not really taken the time to start analyzing it,” Past Chairperson Jeff Wang laughs with good reason, being behind the biggest contingent of patients. “But now we can go back, do meaningful studies, and answer clinically-relevant questions while we keep enrolling and moving forward.”

 

 

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First discussions on DegenPRO with Jeffrey Wang, Darrel Brodke, and Hans Jörg Meisel (Los Angeles, CA, US, 2014).

 

 

One size does not fit all

The AOSpine Knowledge Forum Degenerative describes DegenPRO as a big, daunting, and ambitious task, encompassing a wide range of degenerative conditions and all areas of the spine. “But it fits right into the future of healthcare and will provide better and more efficient care. Studies have shown this will be also safer care,” Wang stresses.

 

“DegenPRO fits right into the future of healthcare and will provide better and more efficient care.”The registry allows consistent follow-up of spine patients who have gone through surgery, and the data collection can provide answers to many specific research questions quickly, as Steering Committee member Hans Jörg Meisel explains. “We will continue to collaborate with the DegenPRO users as research partners. With the fast-growing number of cases, many questions can be answered in a very short time frame.”

 

 

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KF Degenerative at work in Singapore, 2018, discussing DegenPRO.

 

 

Yoon continues with examples of how DegenPRO can change clinical practice for the better: “The aim is to understand, for example, if a certain type of ACDF graft is superior to others or to determine if certain treatments of lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis are better.” DegenPRO will also be the basis for further AOSpine projects in the degenerative pathology, such as comparing different fusion cages, or comparing minimal invasive surgery (MIS) to open surgical approaches.

 

“The data will provide important insights on new technologies.”The data will also provide important insights on new technologies. “We will know if a new technology makes a difference, if there are more complications, and so on. One size does not fit all,” Wang points out. “In the future we could indicate which patients are best suited for surgery, what type of surgery would be best, which class of biologics would be optimal for the case, or when it would be best to hold off on surgery.”

 

 

​Chairperson S. Tim Yoon believes DegenPRO can change clinical practice for the better.Hans Jörg Meisel says DegenPRO helps surgeons and spine teams in each center to follow patients easily.Jeff Wang is excited about the international component of DegenPRO and invites everyone who wants to contribute to participate.3 - 3<>

 

The world is a smaller place

The AOSpine Knowledge Forum hopes to attract people from across the world to become involved in DegenPRO. Meisel reminds that there are still many countries where spine registries are not common. “DegenPRO will help surgeons and spine teams from all participating centers to follow patients easily. We will continue collaborating with the AOSpine centers worldwide on our research questions.”

 

“Anyone can join, but everyone has to contribute.”“This is the future—the world is a smaller place! We already have a goldmine of data, but we are really excited about growing the international component,” Wang says and encourages people simply to get in touch to get involved. “We want as many people involved as possible. But you must be able to add to it, to contribute, to put in patients. Anyone can join, but everyone has to contribute,” Wang concludes.

 

The AOSpine Knowledge Forum Degeneration aims to start publishing outcomes from DegenPRO in 2020.

 

 

For more information on AOSpine KF Degenerative and the ongoing studies visit www.aospine.org/kf-degen