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Patients' expectations and satisfaction in lumbar spine surgery
Tomoaki Toyone1, Tadashi Tanaka, Daisuke Kato
1Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu-city, Chiba, Japan. tomotomot2001@aol.com
Spine
|December 2, 2005
Summary
Patient expectations in lumbar spine surgery often exceed outcomes, leading to dissatisfaction even when clinical goals are met. Spinal stenosis patients tend to have more unrealistic expectations than those undergoing discectomy.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedics
- Patient Outcomes Research
Background:
- Limited literature exists on specific patient expectations for lumbar spine surgery.
- Understanding patient expectations is crucial for managing satisfaction after spinal procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine patient expectations before lumbar spine surgery.
- To assess the fulfillment level of these expectations two years post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 98 patients undergoing either discectomy for lumbar disc herniation or laminotomy for lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Patients completed self-report questionnaires pre-operatively and at a 2-year follow-up to assess expectations and satisfaction.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of patients expected complete leg pain relief and unlimited walking ability.
- While many patients reported satisfaction, a notable percentage experienced unfulfilled expectations, particularly those with spinal stenosis.
- Positive expectations correlated with better satisfaction in the discectomy group only.
Conclusions:
- Patient dissatisfaction can occur even when clinical expectations are met.
- Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis appear to harbor more unrealistic expectations compared to those with lumbar disc herniation.