The primary objective of this study was to determine if surgical treatment for spinal stenosis is comparable to total hip and knee arthroplasty in improving patients’ self-reported quality of life. An age, sex and time of surgery matched cohort of patients who had undergone elective primary one-two level spinal decompression (n=90) with (n=26 /90) or without fusion for spinal stenosis (n=40 with degenerative spondylolisthesis) and elective primary total hip (n=90) and knee (n = 90) arthroplasty for osteoarthritis were compared. The primary outcome measure was the preoperative and two year postoperative Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire.

There was no significant difference in the mean pre-operative Physical Component Summary (PCS) / Mental Component Summary between groups [Spine −32/43; Hip − 30/45; Knee 31/46 (p > 0.5)]. With the exception of the knee MCS (p=0.2), postoperative scores were significantly improved for all groups [Spine −40/53; Hip − 43/51; Knee 39/48 (p < 0.001)]. Overall the hip surgery had the great impact on PCS and the spine surgery on MCS.

Studies have shown the significant impact on overall patient quality of life and cost-effectiveness of primary total joint arthroplasty. The results of this unique study show that surgical intervention for spinal stenosis has a similar positive effect at two year follow up. This study provides data that supports the need advocacy regarding waiting time initiatives and surgical resources for the treatment of patients with symptomatic spinal stenosis with a similar demographic to those with primary OA of the hip or knee.