A new possibility to assess the perioperative walking capacity using a global positioning system in neurosurgical spine patients: a feasibility study.

Abstract

It is well established that the perioperative course in terms of patient satisfaction, neurological function and quality of life, is assessed by monitoring the walking capacity. This examination method is affected by several primary and secondary influences. Therefore, we performed a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of assessing the perioperative walking capacity using a global positioning system (GPS) in neurosurgical spine patients. A step was undertaken to generate objective and reliable data for monitoring control with a cost-effective and easy-to-use measurement tool. Everyday life activities of four patients were measured by using a GPS-capable mobile phone (a week preoperatively, FU 3 months later). Our custom-made software for Android systems continuously records the position- and movement-data of all subjects during the day at 1 s intervals. The position date were smoothed and checked for plausibility. This semi-automated process was followed by determining the total distance walked (TL), the average distance (AL), the average walking speed (V) and the total walking duration per day (T). Additionally, we are able to explore the measuring inaccuracy. In three patients, nearly all parameters were increased in the follow-up examination (TL: 650.76, 972.63, and 269.07%. AL: 1213.83, 3117.89, and 72.23%. V: 78.62, -15.50, and 8.54%. T: 148.18, 4089.56, and 9.08%). In one patient, we documented a different motion pattern (TL: -54.37%, AL: -31.56%, V: -9.20%, T increased: 507.91%) due to residual limitations after suffering a heart attack. In this feasibility study, we demonstrated that this tool is able to measure the perioperative mobility and walking-capability. The certainty of data is dependent on the patients' compliance. The measuring method is used as a low cost, easily accessible, and easy-to-use technique, which seems to be superior to common methods like a treadmill-tests or walking tests. Nevertheless, these results are still to prove in upcoming analysis.