Symptom recurrence and associated factors in postoperative patients with lumbar degenerative disease

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine gradual changes in and relationships among preoperative and 3-month postoperative endpoints in patients with lumbar degenerative disease. [Participants and Methods] The study included 160 diagnosed with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: “good progress” and “recrudescence”. Changes in the Japan Orthpedics Associations (JOA) score, JOA back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ), and numeric rating scale (NRS) preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively, and their associations, were analyzed. [Results] Differences were found in preoperative NRS for low back pain, JOA score (other findings) at 3 months postoperatively, and NRS for low back pain at 3 months postoperatively. The causal analysis yielded paths for “daily life”, “pain”, and “social/psychological aspects”, starting with “lumbar spine disorders”. [Conclusion] The subjective symptoms, objective findings, lumbar spine dysfunction, gait dysfunction, and numbness at 3 months postoperatively yielded relevant information regarding the participants activities of daily living, pain, and social and psychological aspects, providing a perspective for monitoring postoperative patients.