Sensory Symptoms and Effects on Health-related Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery

Background: Patients with lumbar degenerative spine diseases (LDSDs) commonly report sensory symp-toms before and after lumbar spine surgery.Aim: To explore the changing patterns of sensory symptoms-namely pain, numbness, stinging, itching, and burning-and investigate the influences of sensory symptom changes on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients who experienced lumbar spine surgery. Methods: All sensory symptoms (i.e., pain, numbness, paresthesia) were measured using a visual analog scale. The Chinese versions of the Oswestry Disability Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale, and EuroQol-five dimensions (EQ-5D) Scale were used to assess pa-tients 1 week prior to surgery and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. A generalized estimating equation was used for data analysis.Results: A total of 101 patients with mean age of 58.38 years were included. All sensory symptoms declined significantly over time (all p < .05) with the exception of itching (feeling on toes and thighs). Patients experiencing moderate-to-severe pain had poorer QoL over time, even after controlling for other sensory symptoms and potential confounders.Conclusions: Sensory symptoms gradually declined after surgery, but itching symptom did not. Moderate -to-severe pain was the only sensory symptom that influenced HRQoL over time in patients with LDSDs.(c) 2022 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study explores the changing patterns of sensory symptoms and their impact on health-related quality of life in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. The study finds that sensory symptoms gradually decline after surgery, except for itching. Moderate-to-severe pain is the only symptom that has a long-term influence on patients' quality of life.