AN EVALUATION OF SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES AND FOLLOW-UP SCHEDULES AFTER MENINGIOMA SURGERY AT A SINGLE TERTIARY CENTRE

Abstract AIMS Heterogeneity exists between neurosurgical centres and individual surgeons regarding schedules of clinic follow-up and imaging after meningioma surgery, driven in part by resource constraints. We aimed to evaluate short-term (1-2 year) post-surgical functional outcomes, focusing on the effects of surgical results, post-operative complications and follow-up. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of 146 patients (mean age 60.2 ± 15 years, 77% female) who un- derwent craniotomy for meningioma resection between April 2020 and March 2022 at a single tertiary cen- tre. Operative records and patient charts were reviewed for demographics, tumour features, Simpson Grade, complications, functional outcomes and follow-up schedule. Multivariate regression was used to assess the relative importance of patient characteristics and provider factors in recovery. RESULTS Most patients were symptomatic preoperatively (92.5%), commonly with focal deficits (29.5%) and seizures (26.7%). The mean tumour diameter was 41.8±16.1mm, with 76.7% WHO Grade 1. Simpson Grade 1 or 2 resec- tion was achieved in 84.2% of cases. Post-operative complications within 30 days occurred in 41.1%, including new or worsened focal deficits in 15.8%, seizures in 9.6% and infection in 3.4%. In 52.7% of cases, patients were discharged in ≤4 days. Functional status improved significantly, with mean mRS scores decreasing from 2.1 pre-surgery to 1.8 at one year and 1.4 at two years (p<0.05). Considering follow-up, 47.3%, 84.9%, and 95.9% of patients were reviewed in clinic within one, three, and six months, respectively. The first surveillance MRI occurred at a mean of 4.7 months, with 66.4% completed within five months. Timely imaging and clinic review correlated with improved functional recovery in multivariate analyses (p = 0.006 and 0.037 respectively). Advanced age, multifocal tumours, and complications within 30 days were also significant predictors of adverse outcomes. CONCLUSION Meningioma surgery leads to substantial functional improvement. Early and structured follow-up, including timely imaging, is a significant factor in uncomplicated recovery.