Patients with spinal stenosis who have had symptoms for less than 12 months before undergoing treatment have better outcomes than those who wait until after 12 months of symptoms for treatment, according to a study published in Spine.
The study examined 632 patients who had spinal stenosis and 601 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis who sought surgical or non-surgical treatment. The patients were followed for up to four years at regular intervals.
The researchers found that there was significantly less improvement in primary outcome measures for the spinal stenosis patients with more than 12 months of symptoms before treatment. There was no difference in outcomes for symptom duration for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Researchers also reported no statistically significant difference in patients who received surgery compared with patients who only received non-surgical intervention.
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The researchers found that there was significantly less improvement in primary outcome measures for the spinal stenosis patients with more than 12 months of symptoms before treatment. There was no difference in outcomes for symptom duration for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Researchers also reported no statistically significant difference in patients who received surgery compared with patients who only received non-surgical intervention.
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