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Treatment outcome of quality of life and clinical symptoms in patients with symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc diseases: which treatment modality is superior?

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Abstract

Objective

This was to assess the quality of life and clinical symptoms before and after treatment of patients with symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD). It was also to determine the superior treatment for well-selected patients: conservative versus surgical treatment.

Study Design

Prospective interventional analytical study.

Methods

We studied 160 adult symptomatic patients aged 31–60 years with diagnosis of LDDD who were enrolled between May 2016 and November 2017. Their pre- and post-treatment clinical symptoms and signs and quality of life were studied using the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The data was analysed using SPSS version 24.

Results

One hundred fifty-three adult patients aged 31 to 60 years completed the study. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5 while the symptom duration ranged between one and 14 years. The treatment modalities were medical (46%), epidural steroid injection (26%) and operative treatment (28%). The responses to the treatment were worsened symptoms (10.5%), no improvement (13.1%), moderate/slight improvement (27.5%) and significant improvement (49%). There were statistically significant improvements (p value < 0.05) in clinical symptoms, sign and ODI at six months after treatment. Surgical treatment was superior to all other form of care.

Conclusion

This study showed significant improvement in outcome among the participants in different treatment modalities with surgical treatment being the superior. We recommend surgical treatment for well-selected adult patients with symptomatic LDDD and assessment of quality of life and clinical symptoms before and after treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic and Trauma Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

    Ajiboye Lukman Olalekan & Oboirien Muhammad

  2. Orthopaedics and Trauma Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

    Ajiboye Lukman Olalekan & Oboirien Muhammad

  3. Spine Surgery Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Nigeria

    Ajiboye Lukman Olalekan, Mustapha Alimi & Suleiman Ayoola Gbadegesin

Authors
  1. Ajiboye Lukman Olalekan
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  2. Mustapha Alimi
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  3. Suleiman Ayoola Gbadegesin
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  4. Oboirien Muhammad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ajiboye Lukman Olalekan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

Approval to conduct the study from the Ethical Committee of NOHI was obtained before the study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the participants in this study.

The researchers’ level of the participation

All the authors fully participated in all the stages of the study and manuscript writing.

Recommendation

We recommend that all patients with symptomatic LDDD should have pre- and post-treatment functional and quality of life assessments.

Limitations of the study

It is a uni-centred study done in referral orthopaedic hospital where a fraction of the people in the community presents to. A multi-centred study or community-based study with a larger sample size will be more statistically significant for the conclusion. A longer follow-up period of the patients after treatment will show long-term effects of the treatment types.

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Ajiboye, L.O., Alimi, M., Gbadegesin, S.A. et al. Treatment outcome of quality of life and clinical symptoms in patients with symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc diseases: which treatment modality is superior?. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 43, 875–881 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4248-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4248-5

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