Factors associated with numbness for patients with lumbar degenerative disease

Abstract

Introduction: The goal of this study was to investigate preoperative factors associated with sole numbness in patients with lumbar degenerative disease. This was performed using radiological, electrophysiological and neurological findings.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 47 consecutive patients undergoing lumbar decompression surgery between 2005 and 2016. Patients were aged > 70 years and were followed up for 12 months. Patients with sole numbness were classified as Group SN and those without sole numbness as Group NSN. Univariate analyses were used to compare preoperative parameters for radiological, electrophysiological and neurological findings between the two groups.

Results: ATR, vibration sense, sensory disturbance (tactile sense and pain sense) on the bilateral side, position sense and CECT (cauda equina conduction time) on the affected side each differed significantly between Groups SN and NSN (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in radiological findings were seen between the two groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the dummy variable representing Group SN was set as the objective variable and all preoperative factors were set as explanatory variables. Using the stepwise method, patients with sole numbness had lower CECT and vibration sense than patients without numbness [P=0.011, odds ratio (OR) = 3.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29-7.21; and P=0.021, OR = 0.121, 95%: 0.02-0.72, respectively].

Conclusion: CECT and vibration sense on the affected side can be used as reliable preoperative factors for sole numbness.