Abstract
ABSTRACT Objectives: Considering the epidemiological and functional importance of spinal pathologies and the large number of surgeries performed today, the study aimed to evaluate the impact of spinal arthrodesis and discectomy surgeries on patients’ quality of life. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive, and longitudinal study developed in the neurology and neurosurgery department of a strategic tertiary hospital in an inland town in the state of São Paulo. Data were collected through a telephone interview, using the Oswestry questionnaire (ODI) to assess lumbar pain in patients submitted to surgery in 2014 and 2015. Results: There was an improvement in the ODI results in all the periods analyzed. When the evaluations were subdivided by surgical type, there was an absolute improvement in the median ODI results in all procedures, however, only the cervical spine arthrodesis procedure was not statistically significant, probably due to the low number of procedures analyzed (n = 12). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the current surgical technique can contribute to the improvement of patients’ quality of life. Level of Evidence III; Comparative retrospective study.
Highlights
Degenerative diseases of the vertebral spine have increased greatly in recent years, mainly due to the increased life expectancy
When the evaluations were subdivided by surgical type, there was an absolute improvement in the median ODI results in all procedures, only the cervical spine arthrodesis procedure was not statistically significant, probably due to the low number of procedures analyzed (n = 12)
There was an absolute reduction in the median of the results, but in the case of patients submitted to arthrodesis of the cervical spine, there was no statistically significant association (p = 0.121)
Summary
Degenerative diseases of the vertebral spine have increased greatly in recent years, mainly due to the increased life expectancy. It is currently estimated that 53% of the economically active Brazilian population will suffer from low back pain at some time in their lives, and 33% will have associated sciatic pain, affecting their physical, functional, and emotional capacity, as well as their basic routines and professional activities, and often causing partial or total dependence.[1,2]. Low back pain causes high rates of absenteeism, generating high costs for society and health systems. Mechanical pain is pain that worsens with movement and improves with rest. It may impact on the day-to-day activities and cause significant functional limitations. The main causes are lumbar spasms, disc herniation, vertebral fracture, degenerative disk disease, osteoarthrosis of the vertebral spine, or congenital malformation.[4]
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