Lumbar spine surgery in Israeli Arabs and Jews: a comparative study with emphasis on pain perception.
BACKGROUND
Surgery for spinal stenosis is a frequent procedure in elderly patients. Presentation, hospital course, and outcome of disease including pain perception may vary among patients of different ethnic origin.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether differences in various medical indicators can explain differences in pain perception between two ethnic groups.


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study on the experience of two spinal units treating a mixed Arab and Jewish population, and compared the data on 85 Arab and 189 Jewish patients undergoing spinal lumbar surgery.


RESULTS
Arab patients were younger (P = 0.027), less educated (P < 0.001), had a higher body mass index (P = 0.004) and included a higher proportion of diabetics (P = 0.013). Preoperative pain intensity (P = 0.023) and functional disability (P = 0.005) were more prominent, and factors associated with pre- or postoperative pain perception differed between the two ethnic groups. Despite these differences, results on follow-up were similar with respect to pain perception and level of disability.


CONCLUSIONS
A better understanding of ethnic differences is crucial for predicting surgery outcomes.
Gepstein
Reuven
R
Spinal Care Unit, Sapir Medical Center (Meir Hospital), Kfar Saba, Israel.
Arinzon
Zeev
Z
Folman
Yoram
Y
Shabat
Shay
S
Adunsky
Abraham
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000208:ethnology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*