A Spine study evaluated the efficacy of surgical treatment versus nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis treatment.
Researchers utilized the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, five additional databases and two trials registries to Feb. 2015, reference lists as well as spine treatment conference materials. The measured outcomes included quality of life, disability, function, pain, complication rates and side effects.
The study involved five randomized controlled trials with 643 patients.
Here are five takeaways:
1. One study analyzed spine surgery versus bracing and exercise. The study revealed no pain discrepancies between the two treatments.
2. One study compared spine surgery versus spinal injections. The spinal injections demonstrated enhanced physical function, but spine surgery resulted in better pain relief at six weeks post-operation.
3. A final study examined spine surgery with an implanted device versus nonsurgical treatment. The surgery resulted in positive outcomes for symptoms and physical function.
4. The researchers noted the conservative treatments did not involve any side effects, while the surgical treatments had a 10 percent to 23 percent rate of side effects.
5. Based on their analysis, the researchers could not draw any definitive conclusions about whether surgical or nonsurgical treatment proves better for lumbar spinal stenosis patients, as the studies failed to offer specific details about the nonsurgical treatments.