Abstract
Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) may result in a progressive narrowing of the spinal canal leading to compression of the nerve roots. The advantages of minimally invasive surgical approaches to the lumbar spine have been rigorously evaluated, however, the long-term impact on the health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) of patients with LSS that have undergone minimally invasive decompression surgery is uncertain. To this end, the aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of this procedure on the HRQoL of patients with LSS. Methods: Enrolled patients were recruited to this prospective study at two orthopedic centers in Krakow, Poland. Patients eligible for inclusion were above 18 years of age, had been qualified for spine surgery of the lumbar region due to either discopathy or non-traumatic spinal stenosis, had uni- or bilateral neurogenic claudication, and verified spinal stenosis. During the interview, each patient completed the Polish version of the SSSQ (P-SSSQ), SF-36, and a demographic data questionnaire. Apart from the preoperative assessment the patients were again approached to fill in the questionnaires 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. Results: One hundred and seventy-one consecutive patients with a mean age of 59 years were included in the study. This study found that LSS decompression statistically significantly increases HRQoL in a 2-year observation. There was a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative SF-36 and P-SSSQ scores. The largest increase in HRQoL is between the preoperative period and 6 months post-op (p<0.0001). Starting from around 18 months post-op, further changes in HRQoL are minimal. Late complications (persistent pain, the need for revision surgery) may decrease HRQoL at around 24 months post-op. Conclusions: Minimally invasive decompression surgery for elderly patients with LSS significantly improves their HRQoL
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