A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines the association between the preoperative diagnosis and postoperative patient satisfaction among lumbar spinal surgery patients.
The study authors examined data from patients enrolled in the Quality Outcomes Database, formerly known as the National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database. The patients underwent lumbar spine surgery for a variety of diagnoses. The study authors found:
1. Around 66 percent of patients with primary disc herniation and 67 percent with spondylolisthesis reported their expectations were met; a lower proportion of patients with stenosis, adjacent segment disease and mechanical disc collapse reported the same.
2. Nearly half — 48 percent — of the patients with adjacent segment disease reported having their expectations met; 41 percent of patients with mechanical disc collapse reported the same.
3. The surveyors asked patients whether they'd undergo the same procedure again and disc herniation patients topped that group as well:
• Disc herniation: 88 percent of patients
• Spondylolisthesis: 86 percent
• Stenosis: 82 percent
• Recurrent disc herniation: 79 percent
• Adjacent segment disease: 75 percent
• Mechanical collapse: 73 percent
4. The average improvement in pain scores one year after surgery reflected patient satisfaction for all diagnoses.
5. The study authors concluded, "Preoperative diagnosis was predictive of patient satisfaction following spine surgery."