Posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Association between disability and psychological disturbance in noncompensation patients.
METHODS
An observational study of the relation between disability and psychological distress in patients with no on-going compensation claim who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion for chronic low back pain.


OBJECTIVE
To study the change in the relation between disability and psychological distress after surgical management for low back pain.


BACKGROUND
Patient-related factors such as an on-going compensation claim and patient psychology are thought to influence the outcome of low back pain management.


METHODS
Of the 58 patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion for low back pain between 1990 and 1995, 53 were observed for a mean duration of 2.7 years after surgery. Oswestry Disability scores and Distress and Risk Assessment Method scores were collected before surgery and at the follow-up examination.


RESULTS
Improvement of 10 points on the Oswestry Disability Score was observed in 52.8% of the patients. However, the results in patients who were distressed before surgery were similar to the results observed in healthy patients. The difference in the Oswestry Disability Scores was 3.1 (95% confidence intervals [-9.9, 16.2], P = 0.297). The change in Distress and Risk Assessment Method scores showed a significant relation to change in the Oswestry Disability Scores (P = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative improvement in disability was not found to be related to preoperative psychology as measured by the Distress and Risk Assessment Method score. Change in disability is significantly related to change in distress.
Tandon
V
V
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, United Kingdom.
Campbell
F
F
Ross
E R
ER
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation