Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Surgery for spinal stenosis is widely performed, but its effectiveness as compared with nonsurgical treatment has not been shown in controlled trials.

Methods

Surgical candidates with a history of at least 12 weeks of symptoms and spinal stenosis without spondylolisthesis (as confirmed on imaging) were enrolled in either a randomized cohort or an observational cohort at 13 U.S. spine clinics. Treatment was decompressive surgery or usual nonsurgical care. The primary outcomes were measures of bodily pain and physical function on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) and the modified Oswestry Disability Index at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years.

Results

A total of 289 patients were enrolled in the randomized

SUBMITTER: Weinstein JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2576513 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature