Comparison of postoperative clinical outcome after repairing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis between diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Poorer postoperative outcome is suggested after repairing surgery in diabetic patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in comparison with nondiabetic patients. The present study aimed to compare the clinical outcome of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and diabetic and nondiabetic patients to highlight the effect of diabetes on prognosis of this surgical procedure.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study is conducted on 25 diabetic patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who were candidate for surgical treatment. A gender, age, and body mass index-matched group including 30 nondiabetic patients with lumbar spinal stenosis was considered as the control. The clinical condition of the patients was assessed based on oswestry disability index (ODI) before and immediately after surgery.

RESULTS: There was no difference in baseline ODI index between diabetes and diabetes group (73.68 ± 18.89 vs. 71.20 ± 18.27, P = 0.625), whereas postprocedure ODI was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic group (54.32 ± 19.03 vs. 29.47 ± 18.75, P < 0.001). The multivariable logistic regression analysis could show a difference in postoperative ODI between diabetic and nondiabetic patients with the presence of baseline variables as the confounders (beta = -24.509, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Lower improvement in physical ability is expected in diabetic patients after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis when compared to nondiabetes patients.