215. Outcomes of decompression without fusion in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with back pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Some surgeons believe that the presence of substantial back pain in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is an indication for fusion; and that decompression alone may lead to worsening of the back pain from destabilization associated with facet resection. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to determine if LSS patients with clinically significant back pain can obtain substantial improvements in back pain after a decompression alone without fusion. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Multicenter longitudinal cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE The DaneSpine database was used to identify 2737 patients with LSS without segmental instability and a baseline back pain VAS ≥ 50 who underwent a decompression procedure alone without fusion. OUTCOME MEASURES Back and leg pain VAS (0 to 100), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) METHODS The DaneSpine database was used to identify 2737 patients with LSS without segmental instability and a baseline back pain VAS ≥ 50 who underwent a decompression procedure alone without fusion. Standard demographic and surgical variables and patient outcomes, including back and leg pain VAS (0 to 100), ODI and EQ-5D at baseline and 12 months postoperative were collected RESULTS A total of 1891 (69%) patients had 12 month follow-up data available for analysis; mean age of 66.4 years; 860 (46%) were male; mean BMI was 27.8kg/m2; 508 (27%) were current smokers. At 12 months postoperative, there were statistically significant improvements (p CONCLUSIONS Patients with LSS and clinically substantial back pain can obtain improvement in back pain after decompression only surgery and may not need a concomitant fusion. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.