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Driving reaction time improves after surgery in patients with right- and left-side pareses
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Patients with right- and left-side pareses from lumbar disc herniation experienced significant reduction in driving reaction time compared with a healthy control group following surgery, according to recently published study findings.
Researchers analyzed the impact of paresis on driving reaction time (DRT) in 42 consecutive patients. Patients had their DRT recorded 1 day before surgery, postoperatively before hospital discharge and at 5 weeks after surgery. Additionally, pain medications taken, patients’ driving frequency, and VAS for back and leg pain were recorded.
Results showed a significant improvement in DRT after surgery. In patients with right-sided paresis, the preoperative DRT was 761 ms (median, interquartile range [IQR]: 490) compared with 711 ms (median, IQR: 210) immediately postoperatively and 645 ms (median, IQR: 150) at follow-up. Similar improvements were seen in patients with left-sides paresis, with preoperative DRT at 651 ms (median IQR: 270), 592 ms postoperatively and 569 ms at final follow-up.
The researchers concluded that with postoperative improvements in DRT after surgery for right- and left-side paresis, it is safe for patients to continue driving after being discharged from the hospital. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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