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Elderly patients show improvement after lumbar decompression surgery
Researchers found patients 80 years of age and older with symptomatic degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis had meaningful improvement for their condition after lumbar decompression surgery, with significant positive developments in short- and long-term quality of life, according to recently published study results.
The prospective, multicenter study included 37 patients (mean age: 82.5 years) who were followed from baseline until 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Patients’ outcomes were compared with those of a younger patient group between the ages of 70 and 79. The researchers analyzed baseline characteristics using patients’ responses to five different questionnaires, and minimal clinically important differences were calculated.
By 6 months and 12 months postoperative, patients demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the Spinal Stenosis Measure, the Feeling Thermometer, the Numeric Rating Scale, and the Role and Morris Disability Questionnaire, according to the researchers.
A total of 70% of the patients in the study also experienced a meaningful improvement in the Symptom Severity scale. Only one EuroQol-5D-3L subgroup, “anxiety/depression,” showed no improvement for the patients at 12-month follow-up, the researchers reported.
The researchers concluded that patients of advanced age had satisfaction comparable to that of younger patients following simple open decompression without fusion. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.