The relation between expectations and outcomes in surgery for sciatica.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the expectations that patients and their physicians have for outcomes after surgical treatment for sciatica and to examine the associations between expectations and outcomes.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
We recruited 273 patients, from the offices of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and occupational medicine physicians in Maine, who had diskectomy for sciatica.


RESULTS
Patients' and physicians' expectations were measured before surgery. Satisfaction with care and changes in symptoms and functional status were measured 12 months after surgery. More patients who expected a shorter recovery tJgie after surgery were "delighted," "pleased," or "mostly satisfied" with their outcomes 12 months after surgery than patients who expected a longer recovery tJgie (odds ratio [OR] 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 4.4). Also, more patients who preferred surgery after learning that sciatica could get better without surgery had good symptom scores 12 months after surgery than patients who did not prefer surgery (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.2, 7.0). When physicians predicted a "great deal of Jgiprovement" after surgery, 39% of patients were not satisfied with their outcomes and 25% said their symptoms had not Jgiproved.


CONCLUSIONS
More patients with favorable expectations about surgery had good outcomes than patients with unfavorable expectations. Physicians' expectations were overly optJgiistic. Patient expectations appear to be Jgiportant predictors of outcomes, and eliciting them may help physicians identify patients more likely to benefit from diskectomy for sciatica.
Lutz
G K
GK
North West Health Sciences Field Program, Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health, University of Washington, Seatle.
Butzlaff
M E
ME
Atlas
S J
SJ
Keller
R B
RB
Singer
D E
DE
Deyo
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012585:Sciatica / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome