Decompression for lateral lumbar spinal stenosis. Results and impact on sick leave and working conditions.
METHODS
One hundred patients underwent lumbar nerve root decompression without fusion. All patients were registered preoperatively in a computer-coded protocol and followed at regular intervals: 4, 12, and 24 months after surgery. A number of subjective and objective variables were investigated including data on preoperative and postoperative working conditions and sick listing. Patients' opinions on pain relief were assessed using a 4-grade scale.


OBJECTIVE
Surgical results and impact on sick leave and working conditions in patients who underwent surgery for lateral spinal stenosis were evaluated in a prospective, consecutive study.


BACKGROUND
Preoperatively, 81 of the patients were employed, 21 in sedentary work, 36 in moderately heavy work, and 24 in heavy work. The majority of the patients (78%) were off work (sick listed) with a mean duration of 13 months. Mean preoperative duration of sciatic pain was 2.5 years.


METHODS
Working conditions were classified into one of three categories: sedentary, moderately heavy, and heavy work. Distribution of working conditions preoperatively and postoperatively was assessed in conjunction with duration of sick leave. Change of work category postoperatively was evaluated and related to preoperative working conditions.


RESULTS
The effect of decompression for sciatica due to lateral spinal stenosis was gratifying in most cases with excellent results in 65% and fair in 23% of the patients concerning leg pain. The majority of patients employed preoperatively (73%) returned to work after a postoperative sick leave of 5.5 months. Patients who received disability pension postoperatively had significantly inferior surgical result concerning back pain and were also sick listed significantly longer preoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, lateral spinal stenosis was improved in the majority of patients (88%) who underwent surgery, and the majority of patients who were employed before surgery returned to work after.
Jönsson
B
B
Department of Orthopedics, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Strömqvist
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome