All patient subgroups with spinal stenosis, with the exception of smokers, improve more with surgery than with nonoperative treatment, according to a study published in Spine. The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial and several other spine study groups conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine if surgery of nonoperative treatments were more effective for patients with spinal stenosis.
The study evaluated 654 patients in 11 states at 13 institutions with multidisciplinary spine practices. Surgery consisted of a standard open decompressive laminectomy. By four years, 419, or 64 percent, had undergone surgery.
Smokers, however, improved to a similar degree with surgery and nonoperative treatment, suggesting that patients should quit smoking prior to surgery.
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The study evaluated 654 patients in 11 states at 13 institutions with multidisciplinary spine practices. Surgery consisted of a standard open decompressive laminectomy. By four years, 419, or 64 percent, had undergone surgery.
Smokers, however, improved to a similar degree with surgery and nonoperative treatment, suggesting that patients should quit smoking prior to surgery.
More Articles on Spine:
20 Surgeon Leaders With Spine Device Companies
8 Lessons Learned Building a Spine Practice
Spinal Elements to Donate Allograft Proceeds to Charity