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Published on: August 7, 2018
Results of lumbar discectomy: a study using 15 different evaluation methods.
D S Korres1, G Loupassis, K Stamos
1Orthopaedic Department, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
Summary
Patient-reported outcomes for lumbar disc surgery yield higher satisfaction rates than functional criteria. The choice of assessment criteria significantly impacts perceived surgical success in spinal procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedics
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Lumbar disc excision is a common surgical procedure.
- Assessing surgical outcomes is crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
- Variability in reported outcomes for lumbar spinal surgery exists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the surgical outcome of primary lumbar disc excision.
- To compare the effectiveness of different assessment criteria for surgical outcomes.
- To determine the influence of criterion selection on reported results.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-two patients who underwent primary lumbar disc excision were evaluated.
- A range of 15 different criteria were used to assess surgical outcomes.
- Follow-up period ranged from 2 to 15.5 years, averaging 8.8 years.
Main Results:
- Satisfactory results varied significantly, ranging from 62% to 84%.
- Subjective patient-reported criteria showed the highest satisfaction rates.
- Functional criteria (e.g., return to work, need for further treatment) yielded the lowest satisfaction rates.
Conclusions:
- The selection and design of assessment criteria heavily influence reported outcomes in lumbar spinal surgery.
- Subjective patient assessments provide a more favorable view of surgical success compared to objective functional measures.
- Standardization of outcome assessment criteria is needed for consistent evaluation of lumbar disc surgery effectiveness.