Impact of Additional Treatment of Paralumbar Spine and Peripheral Nerve Diseases After Lumbar Spine Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Some patients experience failed back surgery syndrome after lumbar spine surgery. We report the effect of additional treatments for paralumbar spine and peripheral nerve diseases addressing residual symptoms after surgery.

METHODS: We enrolled 74 patients (59 men and 15 women; mean age 62.9 years) who had undergone lumbar posterior decompression surgery. Mean follow-up after initial surgery was 26.2 months (range, 13-48 months). We subsequently diagnosed paralumbar spine diseases, including superior cluneal nerve entrapment neuropathy with (n = 3) or without gluteus medius muscle pain (n = 4) and gluteus medius muscle pain alone (n = 5), and peripheral nerve diseases, including peroneal nerve entrapment neuropathy (n = 4) and tarsal tunnel syndrome (n = 1), based on persistent or recurring clinical symptoms and nerve block effects. Treatment outcomes were analyzed by comparing Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores.

RESULTS: Of 74 patients, 54 (73.0%) improved after initial lumbar surgery (group A), and 20 (27.0%) continued to experience symptoms or experienced symptom recurrence during follow-up (group B). In group B, 4 patients improved with conservative therapy, 11 underwent 1 additional surgical procedure, and 5 underwent >1 additional surgical procedures. After these additional treatments, clinical outcomes were recorded as good. At the last follow-up visit, there was no difference between group A and group B.

CONCLUSIONS: Of 74 patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery, 16 (21.6%) required additional surgery. To reduce the incidence of failed back surgery syndrome, concurrent diseases that may be masked by symptoms resulting from severe lumbar spine disease must be ruled out, as these diseases may become apparent after initial lumbar spine surgery.