Quality of life after elective lumbar spinal fusions

Our goal was to evaluate the quality of life in patients who underwent an elective lumbar stabilization and fusion.

We treated 208 patients (120 females and 88 males) for degenerative lumbar spine conditions. In 165 cases we performed the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), in 38 the posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) and in 5 the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Before and after the surgery, pain was evaluated with the VAS and the quality of life with the second version of the SF-6. Follow up was from six months to two years. We used the statistical tests chi-square, t-test and ANOVA.

Satisfied were 62.5% of patients, partially satisfied were 19.7% and dissatisfied were 17.8% of patients. The average VAS decreased from 68 to 35. There was a significant improvement in mobility and decrease of consumption of analgetics after the surgery. Clinically significant improvements were in all domains of sf-36 except the mental health, social function and mental composite score. We had 30 complications in 28 patients. A revision surgery was necessary in 18 cases. Complications had no significant effect on the SF-36 and VAS score.

The results are comparable with published data. Correctly indicated spinal operations are effective in reducing pain and improvement of the function. We have noted a significant decrease of pain, improvement of mobility, and a reduction of analgetics consumption. Despite the improvements, post-operatively all values of the SF-36 were lower than standards for the population. Complications and reoperations in our group are relatively common problems, surprisingly did not affected the quality of life after surgery (Tab. 9, Ref. 38). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.