ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2016
Predictors of clinical outcome following lumbar disc surgery: the value of historical, physical examination, and muscle function variables.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The effect of symptom duration on the outcomes of lumbar discectomy for radicular pain secondary to lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Pooled it
- Trial
- Answer to the Letter to the Editor of J. Li, et al. concerning "The effect of symptom duration on the outcomes of lumbar discectomy for radicular pain secondary to lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis" by Low WX, et al. (Eur Spine J [2025]; doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08912-y).European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Article
- Restorative Neurostimulation Therapy Compared to Optimal Medical Management: A Randomized Evaluation (RESTORE) for the Treatment of Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain due to Multifidus Dysfunction.Pain and therapy · 2025Article
- ReActiv8 Stimulation Therapy vs. Optimal Medical Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial for the Treatment of Intractable Mechanical Chronic Low Back Pain (RESTORE Trial Protocol).Pain and therapy · 2023Article
- Article
- Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging Differences in Multifidus and Thoracolumbar Fasciae between Athletes with and without Chronic Lumbopelvic Pain: A Case-Control Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2020Article
- Lumbar disc herniation treated by microendoscopic discectomy : Prognostic predictors of long-term postoperative outcome.Der Orthopade · 2018Article
- Preoperative sport improves the outcome of lumbar disc surgery: a prospective monocentric cohort study.Neurosurgical review · 2017Article
- Predictors of an unfavorable outcome 1.5 and 12 years after a first, uncomplicated lumbar disc surgery.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2016Article
- Improvement of sensory function after sequestrectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective clinical study using quantitative sensory testing.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeExplore the relationships between preoperative findings and clinical outcome following lumbar disc surgery, and investigate the prognostic value of physical examination findings after accounting for information acquired from the clinical history.
methodsWe recruited 55 adult patients scheduled for first time, single-level lumbar discectomy. Participants underwent a standardized preoperative evaluation including real-time ultrasound imaging assessment of lumbar multifidus function, and an 8-week postoperative rehabilitation programme. Clinical outcome was defined by change in disability, and leg and low back pain (LBP) intensity at 10 weeks. Linear regression models were used to identify univariate and multivariate predictors of outcome.
resultsUnivariate predictors of better outcome varied depending on the outcome measure. Clinical history predictors included a greater proportion of leg pain to LBP, pain medication use, greater time to surgery, and no history of previous physical or injection therapy. Physical examination predictors were a positive straight or cross straight leg raise test, diminished lower extremity strength, sensation or reflexes, and the presence of postural abnormality or pain peripheralization. Preoperative pain peripheralization remained a significant predictor of improved disability (p = 0.04) and LBP (p = 0.02) after accounting for information from the clinical history. Preoperative lumbar multifidus function was not associated with clinical outcome.
conclusionsInformation gleaned from the clinical history and physical examination helps to identify patients more likely to succeed with lumbar disc surgery. While this study helps to inform clinical practice, additional research confirming these results is required prior to confident clinical implementation.
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