Lumbar spinal stenosis and surgical decompression affect sleep quality and position in patients. A prospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Introduction: It is reasonable to assume that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) affects the cauda nerve roots also at night.

Research Question: Does microsurgical decompression influence sleep quality and position?

Materials And Methods: A study nurse interviewed 140 patients scheduled for LSS decompression using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Spinal Stenosis Measure (SSM), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for back and leg pain, Douleur Neuropathique (DN4), and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Epidemiologic and MRI data were collected along with self-reported rankings of preferred sleep positions (prone, supine, side, and fetal).