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Life dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer surgery outcome and depression among lumbar spinal stenosis patients: a 2-year prospective study

European Spine Journal volume 18, pages 1187–1193 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the life satisfaction of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients up to the 2-year postoperative phase. Patients (N = 102, mean age, 62 years) with symptomatic LSS underwent decompressive surgery. Data collection took place with the same set of questionnaires before surgery and 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postoperatively. Life satisfaction was assessed with the four-item Life Satisfaction scale and depression symptoms with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In addition, a depression burden variable was included, comprising the sum of preoperative, 3- and 6-month BDI scores. Physical functioning and pain were assessed with the Oswestry disability index, Stucki questionnaire, self-reported walking ability, visual analogy scale and pain drawing. Two years postoperatively, 18% of the LSS patients was dissatisfied with their lives. As a whole, the life satisfaction of the LSS patients improved during the postoperative follow-up, reaching the level of the healthy adult Finnish population. However, 2 years postoperatively, dissatisfied patients reported significantly more pain, a poorer functional ability and more depressive symptoms and depression than the patients who were satisfied with life. This difference was seen throughout the postoperative follow up. In regression analyses, the only significant associations were between the depression burden and postoperative life dissatisfaction. Thus, subjective well-being as well as depression among LSS patients should be assessed pre- and postoperatively in order to enable early intervention for those at risk of poorer life satisfaction.

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Acknowledgements

S. Sinikallio was supported by a Kuopio University Hospital EVO research grant and a research grant from the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of University of Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation, Kuopio University Hospital, Tarinan sairaala, Siilinjärvi, 71800, Kuopio, Finland

    Sanna Sinikallio

  2. Kyyhkylä Rehabilitation Center, Mikkeli, Finland

    Timo Aalto

  3. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Timo Aalto, Olavi Airaksinen & Arto Herno

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Lapland Hospital District, Muurola, Finland

    Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen & Heimo Viinamäki

  7. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Heikki Kröger

  8. The Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, Kuopio University, Kuopio, Finland

    Heikki Kröger

  9. Kuopio University, Kuopio, Finland

    Heimo Viinamäki

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  1. Sanna Sinikallio
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  2. Timo Aalto
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Correspondence to Sanna Sinikallio.

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Sinikallio, S., Aalto, T., Koivumaa-Honkanen, H. et al. Life dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer surgery outcome and depression among lumbar spinal stenosis patients: a 2-year prospective study. Eur Spine J 18, 1187–1193 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0955-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0955-3

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