Abstract

Introduction: Lower back pain has been defined as pain arising from the back between the costal arch and the natal cleft, regardless if there’s any radiation. Lower back pain is further subcategorized into chronic and acute, with 3 months being the cutoff period.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the difference in the disability of patients before and after lumbar disc ablation procedure.

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study design conducted among patients who underwent lumbar disc ablation and disc prolapse in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered in the patient chart from September 2018 to May 2020. Patients’ data were taken from their files including basic demographic profiles, radiculopathy symptoms, pervious spine operation, and chronic illnesses. Pain scale and Oswestry disability index preoperative and postoperative were also obtained. All statistical data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Software Sciences version 21.

Results: Patients’ mean age was 50.3 (SD 10.5) years old with more than a half (57.7%) were females. Statistical tests showed that the mean score of Oswestry disability index was significantly improved from mean 42.1% (SD13.9%) at baseline to mean 20.6% (SD 13.6%) post intervention (mean diff: 21.497%; 95% CI = 6.934 - 12.339; p < 0.001). None of the patients presented with crippled disability level after the treatment. In addition, unemployed and patients with chronic diseases had significantly higher ODI score than their counterparts which was measured after the procedure.

Conclusion: There was a significant improvement of functional status after the procedure for lumbar disc ablation. Unemployed patients and those with chronic disease were more prone to disability than their counterparts.

Keywords: Oswestry Disability Index; Pain scale; Lumbar Disc Ablation; Eastern Province

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