Outcomes from surgery

There are a variety of ways to measure outcome. One method is assess the change in  pain and/or function following surgery. Since 2021 I have been collecting pain and functional scores before and after surgery on my patients. Below are the outcomes following common spinal procedures. Although no method is perfect, this can provide some guide as to the potential benefit of surgery. 

Realising improvement can take longer following fusion and so the numbers below for  ACDF and Lumbar Fusion are at the 6-month mark while numbers for Lumbar Discectomy and Lumbar Decompression are at the 6-week mark.

Lumbar Discectomy

Below are the average improvements reported by 6 weeks following lumbar discectomy, usually indicated for a disc herniation causing nerve root compression and severe leg pain.

Back pain - 74.2% less

Leg pain - 82.4% less

Spinal function - 48.7% better

Lumbar Decompression

Below are the average improvements reported at 6 weeks following lumbar decompression, a procedure normally perfumed for spinal stenosis.

Back pain - 62.4% less

Leg pain - 59.1% less

Spinal function - 47.1% better

ACDF

Below are the average improvements reported at 6 months following ACDF, a common procedure for cervical disc herniation causing nerve root compression and arm pain.

Neck pain - 73.6% less

Arm pain - 80% less

Neck function - 65.1% better

Lumbar Fusion

Below are the average improvements reported at 6 months following surgery for lumbar interbody fusion -this includes PLIF and TLIF surgery

Back pain - 63.9% less

Leg pain - 47.6% less

Spinal function - 39.9% better