Sensory Symptoms and Effects on Health-related Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with lumbar degenerative spine diseases (LDSDs) commonly report sensory symptoms before and after lumbar spine surgery. AimTo explore the changing patterns of sensory symptoms—namely pain, numbness, stinging, itching, and burning—and investigate the influences of sensory symptom changes on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who experienced lumbar spine surgery. MethodsAll sensory symptoms (i.e., pain, numbness, paresthesia) were measured using a visual analog scale. The Chinese versions of the Oswestry Disability Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale, and EuroQol-five dimensions (EQ-5D) Scale were used to assess patients 1 week prior to surgery and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. A generalized estimating equation was used for data analysis. ResultsA total of 101 patients with mean age of 58.38 years were included. All sensory symptoms declined significantly over time (all p < .05) with the exception of itching (feeling on toes and thighs). Patients experiencing moderate-to-severe pain had poorer QoL over time, even after controlling for other sensory symptoms and potential confounders. ConclusionsSensory symptoms gradually declined after surgery, but itching symptom did not. Moderate-to-severe pain was the only sensory symptom that influenced HRQoL over time in patients with LDSDs.