Abstract
Study design: Prospective cohort study.
Objective: Despite wide acceptance of decompression surgery for spinal stenosis, the reported success rates remain variable. Our aim is to investigate the value of various predictors of functional outcome in patients undergoing primary lumbar decompression surgery secondary to degenerative spinal stenosis.
Subjects: Eligible patients who had primary posterior lumbar decompression surgery for degenerative spinal stenosis with follow up for 2 years.
Outcome measures: Oswestry Disability index (ODI), Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS), Visual Analogue Score (VAS), claudication walking distance and patient’s subjective assessment of the outcome of the surgery.
Results: Ninety-nine patients who had primary lumbar decompression surgery were recruited between July 1994 and December 2001. The follow up rate was 100% at one year and 76% at two years. There is a statistical significant association between duration of symptoms and the change in ODI, change in LBOS, change in VAS and change in walking distance both at one year and two years follow up. One-way analysis of variance also showed that the groups of patients with symptoms less than 33 months have a much better functional outcome at two years follow up. We have not found modified somatic perception score, modified zung depression score and gender to influence the outcome of the surgery.
Conclusion: This study indicates that patients with a prolonged duration of symptoms have a less favourable functional outcome. Patient’s satisfaction is greatest if surgery occurs within 33 months.
These abstracts were prepared by Mr. Brian J C Freeman FRCS (Tr & Orth). Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH.
