title: Seven-year clinical follow-up after lumbar disc surgery: results and predictors of outcome.
abstract: This study evaluates the 7-year outcome of lumbar disc surgery and the predictive value of pre- and perioperative risk factors. The 7-year follow-up rate of a sample of 122 patients was 93% (n = 114). Six per cent of the patients had undergone repeat surgery. Approximately 90% reported that they were satisfied with having undergone surgery. The clinical outcome was evaluated in 96 patients (54 men and 42 women) by means of patient-scores (VAS) of low back and leg pain, and a Clinical Overall Score (COS). In multivariate regression analyses, women were shown to have poorer outcome than men. Preoperative psychological distress and impaired fibrinolytic activity were predictors of poor 7-year outcome. Age, weight, smoking habits and physical fitness had no statistically significant prognostic value. Whether the patients were operated for one or two herniated discs, or whether surgery involved a full or partial laminectomy, did not influence the outcome significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Graver
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Haaland
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Magnaes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loeb
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome