Article ID: 11731
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prospectively clarify the course of postoperative patient-reported outcomes and physical function in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Methods: We analyzed the data of 78 patients who completed pre-, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and postoperative evaluations (maximum follow-up was 12 months). Thirty-seven patients had undergone fusion surgery (68.4 ± 10.5 years), and 41 patients had undergone decompression surgery (68.9 ± 7.8 years). We evaluated the Japanese orthopaedic association back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ), visual analog scale (VAS) scores (low back pain, lower extremity pain, and numbness), 6-minute walk test results, and trunk muscle strength. This study was approved by the institutional review board of the authors' affiliated institutions.
Results: In the fusion surgery and decompression surgery, the four scales of the JOABPEQ, VAS (low back pain, lower limb pain and numbness), and 6-minute walk distance improved from 1 month after surgery. On the other hand, lumbar dysfunction of the JOABPEQ improved from 6 months after surgery. Trunk muscle strength improved from 3 months after decompression surgery.
Conclusions: The course of postoperative JOABPEQ and physical function was clarified. These are considered to be useful as explanations for surgery and target values for the postoperative course.
