title: Does gynecologic surgery contribute to low back problems in later life? An analysis of the women's health and aging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether women with potential injuries to the abdominal and pelvic musculature from past gynecologic surgery are at higher risk for low back pain (LBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eastern region of the city and county of Baltimore, MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Disabled women (N=1002) aged 65 and older, 448 of whom reported gynecologic surgery who were participants in the Women's Health and Aging Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  LBP presence in the last year, LBP severity for the last month, and adjudicated lumbar diagnoses (disk disease, stenosis) were examined in relation to reports of surgical menopause or ovarian surgery adjusted for LBP risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with surgical menopause experienced more moderate LBP (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3) than women without surgical menopause. Women with ovarian surgery also experienced more moderate LBP than women without ovarian surgery, but this association was not statistically significant (AOR=1.39; 95% CI, 0.96-2.09). Gynecologic surgery was not associated with an increased likelihood of lumbar disk disease or stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical menopause may increase the risk of moderate LBP. Further research is needed to determine how gynecologic surgery might influence low back pathology. Abdominal and pelvic muscle rehabilitation after gynecologic surgery may provide protection from LBP later in life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23298, USA. jerickse@hsc.vcu.edu
authors.forename: Jeffery J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ericksen
authors.forename: Jonathan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bean
authors.forename: Dan K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Suzanne G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Leveille
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016387:Women's Health