Risk Factors of Postoperative Low Back Pain for Low-Grade Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: An At Least 2-Year Follow-Up Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: A retrospective study was conducted to clarify the risk factors of postoperative low back pain (LBP) for low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Patients and methods: A total of 239 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion between January 2011 and January 2015 were included in this analysis. We investigated patient characteristics, surgical characteristics, and radiographic characteristics.

Results: The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score of LBP decreased dramatically after the operation. The mean preoperative VAS score was greater in patients with severe lumbar multifidus (LM) intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT). The postoperative VAS score was dramatically lower in patients with shorter symptom duration. Postoperative LBP disappeared more often in patients with shorter symptom duration. LBP VAS changing showed significant differences in different symptom duration groups and LM IMAT groups.

Conclusions: LM IMAT and symptom duration were risk factors for postoperative LBP. Patients with severe LM IMAT reported more severe LBP before the operation. Postoperative LBP disappeared more often in patients with shorter symptom duration.

Keywords: Low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis; Postoperative low back pain; Risk factor.