The long-term prognosis after operation for lumbar spinal stenosis

The prognosis for patients treated surgically for lumbar spinal stenosis with a minimum follow-up time of 10 years was evaluated. The study group consisted of 102 patients (39 women and 63 men) with a mean age at operation of 52 years and with a mean follow-up time of 12.4 years. The antero-posterior (AP) diameter was equal to or less than 12 mm at the narrowest point on the preoperative lateral myelograms. The results were based on the Oswestry disability score, the severity of pain, the change in pain and the state of depression. According to this score the results were excellent-to-good in 69 patients (68%), the pain was mild in 64 patients (63%), the change in pain was slight in 78 patients (77%), and there was no depression in 55 patients (54%). The pain and the change in pain had a very high correlation in the Oswestry disability score. The pain led to depression more often in the men than in the women. The depression had a much stronger correlation to outcome in the men than in the women.