Analysis of reasons for failed surgery treatment in patients with back pain

Abstract

Fifty-three patients followed up for back pain and operated on are analyzed. The failed back surgery syndrome was observed in 47% of cases. Surgical results did not depend on the duration of the last exacerbation, the frequency of admissions, the presence of radicular syndrome, the size of intervertebral hernias, and the type of intervention (discectomy or microdiscectomy). Magnetic resonance imaging showed postoperative recurrent hernia in 50% of patients with good surgical results and in 89% of those with its poor results, which suggested that the surgical outcome could be only partially determined by a recurrence. Surgical treatment failures were correlated with the presence of neuropathic pain, anxiety, and depression. The detection of the neuropathic and psychogenic components of pain syndrome and the use of combination therapy with antidepressants and anticonvulsants for back pain will reduce the number of surgical interventions and improve their results.

Keywords

• failed back surgery
• discectomy
• radiculopathy
• intervertebral hernia