Patients who are suffering from depressive symptoms are more likely to have bad outcomes from surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, according to a study published in Spine.
Researchers examined 96 patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent decompressive surgery. Patients with continuous depression showed poorer improvement in symptom severity, the disability score and walking capacity than those without depression.
For those who recovered from depressive symptoms, the postoperative improvement resembled a constant normal mood group. There were strong independent associations between the depression burden and two-year disability, symptom severity and poor walking capacity.
Read the abstract about depression among patients undergoing spinal decompression.
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
- Spine Surgeons to Participate in Superion ISS Study
- Dr. Trang H. Nguyen: Spinal Fusions Have Poor Outcomes for Workers' Compensation Patients
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Researchers examined 96 patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent decompressive surgery. Patients with continuous depression showed poorer improvement in symptom severity, the disability score and walking capacity than those without depression.
For those who recovered from depressive symptoms, the postoperative improvement resembled a constant normal mood group. There were strong independent associations between the depression burden and two-year disability, symptom severity and poor walking capacity.
Read the abstract about depression among patients undergoing spinal decompression.
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
- Spine Surgeons to Participate in Superion ISS Study
- Dr. Trang H. Nguyen: Spinal Fusions Have Poor Outcomes for Workers' Compensation Patients
- Study Outlines the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery