Surgery for disc disease

Assessment and Determinants of Spinal Pain in the Course of Disc Disorders Treated Surgically

Background

Intervertebral disc disease is defined as a complex of structural changes in the aftermath of disorders of mutual elements, the structure of which form the discus intervertebralis and the spinal canal. The present work assessed pain in patients who were surgically treated due to spinal discopathy and analyzed factors that determine the condition.

Material/Methods

The research was carried on a group of 187 patients diagnosed with discopathy of the lumbosacral and cervical segment. The data are discussed in the context of medical records and the Visual Analogue Scale used for pain assessment. We used a prospective study plan with a 3-time assessment.

Results

The pain level observed among patients prior to the procedure (M=6.52) was higher than after 7 days (M=3.15) and 6 months from the operation (M= 3.45). The highest level of pain (M=6.88), with a relatively high consistency among the patients (SD=2.25), was observed in the case of left-side hernia (H=7.31; p=0.023). The influence of the analyzed factors on pain experience markedly increased by the third assessment (R2=0.14), and was strongly associated with the type of work performed by the patient.

Conclusions

Surgical operation significantly reduces pain in patients with disc disorders. The level of pain is predominantly affected by the location of the hernia and the type of work performed by the patient.

The diagnosis and management of common non-specific back pain - a clinical review

The assessment and management of common non-specific back pain that is associated with considerable personal morbidity and cost to society is reviewed and set in a bio-psycho-social context.