Evaluating Instability in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: Objective Variables Versus Surgeon Impressions.

Unlabelled: The subjective degenerative spondylolisthesis instability classification (S-DSIC) system attempts to define preoperative instability associated with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). The system guides surgical decision-making based on numerous indicators of instability that surgeons subjectively assess and incorporate. A more objective classification is warranted in order to decrease variation among surgeons.

Fulfillment of Patient Expectations After Spine Surgery is Critical to Patient Satisfaction: A Cohort Study of Spine Surgery Patients.

Background: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator used to monitor quality of care and outcomes after spine surgery.

Objective: To examine the complex relationship between preoperative expectations, fulfillment of expectations, postsurgical outcomes, and satisfaction after spine surgery.

Methods: In this national study of patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative spinal conditions from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network Registry, we used logistic regression to examine the relationships between patient satisfaction with surgery (1-5 scale), preoperative expectation score (0 = none to 100 = highest), fulfillment of expectations, and disability and pain improvement.

Back pain in surgically treated degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: what can we tell our patients?

Of Background Data: Surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) has traditionally been indicated for patients with neurogenic claudication. Surgery improves patients' disability and lower extremity symptoms, but less is known about the impact on back pain.

Objective: To evaluate changes in back pain after surgery and identify factors associated with these changes in surgically-treated DLS.