Quality of life before and after microsurgical decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis

Twenty consecutive patients (10 men and 10 women; median age, 68 years) wit h lumbar spinal stenosis were studied before and after microsurgical decomp ression without laminectomy. Fourteen of the patients had pure stenosis sym ptoms, whereas six had intercurrent diseases that could exacerbate the symp toms of stenosis. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.5 years (range, 1 to 15 years). All patients were interviewed before operation, and an assessmen t form based on and modified from the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Que stionnaire was completed. The ability to perform physical activities includ ing house work, gardening, going to the post office, and so forth was marke dly reduced before operation for nearly all patients, and social life such as traveling, meeting friends, and participating in hobbies was similarly r estricted. Sleeping was also greatly affected before operation, as were psy chological parameters including irritability, depression, infirmity, energy , patience, and concentration. At follow-up 2.8 years after surgery, 13 of the 14 patients with pure stenosis evaluated their quality of life as much improved and principally normal. Among the patients with intercurrent disea ses, only two of six judged the quality of their lives as much improved.