Biopsychosocial variations in quality of life outcome following microdiscectomy

Lumbar microdiscectomy is one of the most frequently performed neurosurgical procedures. In this review, we ask why patients' outcomes vary so widely even within the same unit, with the same surgeon performing the procedure and utilizing the technique? In a cohort of 87 patients, we investigated how/whether multiple patient variables impacted outcomes following single-level lumbar microdiscectomy. We studied whether early surgical intervention improved the patients' quality of life (QOL) versus late intervention. Furthermore, we assessed other variables that could influence patient-perceived improvement. Preoperatively and postoperatively, we additionally utilized the following internationally standardized questionnaires (EQ-5D, Oswestry, and Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI]). A generalized substantial improvement in QOL was identified throughout the cohort population (