Does smoking affect the outcomes of lumbar decompression surgery?

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Lumbar decompression and micro-discectomy are common non-complex spinal surgeries for disc prolapse and stenosis.
• Smoking is advised against before complex spinal surgery due to negative impacts, but evidence is mixed for decompressive surgeries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of smoking on outcomes of lumbar decompression and micro-discectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 143 consecutive patients undergoing either micro-discectomy or micro-decompression.

Main Results:

• No statistical difference in outcomes between smokers and non-smokers.
• Both groups showed equal and significant improvement in back pain, leg pain, and function.
• Minor differences observed: 2% more non-smokers improved leg pain, 1% less non-smokers improved back pain, and 2% more non-smokers improved Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores.

Conclusions:

• Smokers and non-smokers requiring lumbar spinal decompression should be surgically treated.
• Smoking status does not appear to significantly affect outcomes for these specific spinal decompression procedures.