title: Neurosurgeons' management of lumbosacral radicular syndrome evaluated against a clinical guideline.
abstract: To establish to what extent neurosurgeons subscribe to the lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS) guideline, and to evaluate their current management of patients with LRS against the guideline. All active neurosurgeons in the Netherlands (n=92) were mailed a questionnaire about the guideline and data from 66 responders were analysed. Patients were recruited via seven of the participating neurosurgeons and were interviewed once by telephone. The medical records of the participating patients (n=163) were also examined. Of the 26 propositions in the LRS guideline, seven were not fully endorsed by the neurosurgeons. Three of these seven propositions may need updating based on "new evidence". The time between the onset of the LRS episode and the actual moment of surgery was considerably longer than that recommended in the guideline. Based on their current management of LRS patients, the neurosurgeons largely adhere with the LRS guideline.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. p.luijsterburg@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Pim A J
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Luijsterburg
authors.forename: Arianne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braak
authors.forename: Anushka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oemraw
authors.forename: Cees J J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Avezaat
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Koes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires