Quality of life before and after microsurgical decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis

Twenty consecutive patients (10 men and 10 women; median age, 68 years) with lumbar spinal stenosis were studied before and after microsurgical decompression without laminectomy. Fourteen of the patients had pure stenosis symptoms, whereas six had intercurrent diseases that could exacerbate the symptoms of stenosis. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.5 years (range, 1 to 15 years). All patients were interviewed before operation, and an assessment form based on and modified from the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire was completed. The ability to perform physical activities including house work, gardening, going to the post office, and so forth was markedly reduced before operation for nearly all patients, and social life such as traveling, meeting friends, and participating in hobbies was similarly restricted. Sleeping was also greatly affected before operation, as were psychological parameters including irritability, depression, infirmity, energy, patience, and concentration. At follow-up 2.8 years after surgery, 13 of the 14 patients with pure stenosis evaluated their quality of life as much improved and principally normal. Among the patients with intercurrent diseases, only two of six judged the quality of their lives as much improved.