Sexual dysfunction after elective spine surgery: A systematic review identifying knowledge gaps and clinical implications.

Sara Merkaj, Anton Früh, Claudius Jelgersma, Peter Vajkoczy, Lars Wessels, Vanessa Hubertus

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In one paragraph

Review in Brain & spine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sara MerkajDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Anton FrühDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Claudius JelgersmaDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Peter VajkoczyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Lars WesselsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Vanessa HubertusDepartment of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Luisenstraße 64, Berlin, 10117, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Spine surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures globally, with increasing numbers particularly among older patients. Sexual function significantly impacts quality of life, yet sexual dysfunction following spine surgery remains underexplored. Research question: This systematic review aims to summarize current research on sexual dysfunction following spine surgery, identify knowledge gaps, and clinical implications. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA-DTA guidelines. Relevant articles were identified utilizing MEDLINE and PubMed database focusing on studies reporting sexual function outcomes after elective spine surgery. Fifteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed for study type, sample size, surgical approach, and sexual function outcomes. Results: The majority of studies were retrospective and single-center with small sample sizes. About 62% reported no decline or improvement in sexual function after surgery, while 38% documented a decrease. Surgical approaches and patient populations varied widely. Most studies utilized the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to address sexual activity, though its limitations in capturing nuanced sexual dysfunction were noted. Research addressing sexual dysfunction on a deeper level, including psychological and gender-specific sexual health remained scarce. Discussion and conclusion: Evidence on sexual dysfunction following spine surgery currently is heterogeneous and limited. There is a critical need for high-quality, prospective, gender-specific research employing comprehensive and validated sexual function assessments. The routine evaluation of sexual function holds the potential to enhance understanding, improve patient counseling, postoperative care, and overall quality of life.

Indexed as

ElectiveSexual dysfunctionSpine surgerySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42389476

DOI10.1016/j.bas.2026.106130

PMCPMC13319954

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