SynthesisEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2022
The association between changes in multifidus muscle morphology and back pain scores following discectomy surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis 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, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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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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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Spontaneous resorption of disc herniations in adjacent segment after endoscopic spine surgery: Cohort study.Neurosurgical review · 2026Article
- Machine Learning Model for Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation after Lumbar Discectomy.Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society · 2026Article
- Multifidus Fat Infiltration in Patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II Treated with Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Preliminary Report.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- A Critical Review of Trunk and Hip Exercise Prescription: Applying Evidence for a Modern Approach.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2025Article
- Effects of oral OsteoKing on pain, lumbar function, and inflammatory markers in patients with lumbar disc herniation.American journal of translational research · 2025Article
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Multifidus Muscle in Patients with Low Back Pain after Microlumbar Discectomy Surgery.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Article
- Study of single-level lumbar degenerative diseases treated by unilateral wiltse access with unilateral nail rod fixation assisted by a new automatic retraction device.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the impact of discectomy on back muscles (e.g. multifidus muscle (MM)) morphology in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) following discectomy surgery, address the association of back muscles morphology with pain score preoperatively and post-operatively, and investigate the relationships between the changes from pre- to post-operative back muscles measurements and pain score (primary outcome) and disability score (secondary outcome) change following discectomy if any.
methodsWe searched three online databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. In LDH patients, eligible for discectomy surgery, pre- and post-operative and the changes from pre- to post-operative of back and/or leg pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and multifidus muscle morphology, were considered as primary outcomes. Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to assess the methodological quality of RCTs and observational studies, respectively. Standardize mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was evaluated. A meta-regression analysis was conducted. GRADE approach was used to summarize the strength of evidence.
resultsOne RCT and five observational studies were included in the analysis of 489 patients with LDH undergoing discectomy surgery. The mean overall follow-up was 64.9 weeks (6 to 148.7 weeks). There was a significant negative relationship between the change from pre- to post-operative cross-sectional area (CSA) in MM and change in VAS back pain [regression coefficient = -0.01, (95% CI = -0.02, -0.01), p = 0.044] after discectomy surgery. No significant relationship between preoperative CSA in MM and preoperative/post-operative clinical (any of the follow-up periods) scores could be established.
conclusionThe results of this study found very low-quality grade evidence for an association between higher reduction of CSA in MM and less reductions of back pain scores following discectomy surgery for patients with LDH. Due to the heterogeneity and methodological limitations, further studies will improve understanding and aid preoperative counselling.
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