Early Basic Mobility Acquisition and 3-Month Clinical Outcomes in Postoperative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients

Daiki Takemori, Yuki Kitsuda, Takashi Wada, Chikako Takeda, Chika Tanimura, Hideki Nagashima, Mari Osaki
Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between early acquisition of basic mobility and clinical outcomes in LSS patients 3 months postoperatively. 

Methods:

This retrospective observational study included 19 male and 11 female patients aged 40 years or older (mean age 72.0±9.0 years) who underwent surgery for LSS and postoperative rehabilitation at our hospital between January 2023 and May 2024. Patients who were not able to walk independently before surgery and those who had rest limitations due to postoperative management were excluded. The Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS) was used to evaluate the early acquisition of basic mobility, and the 3-day CAS was calculated as the cumulative total from the first to the third postoperative day. Each movement was scored as independent (2 points), assisted (1 point), or impossible (0 point), and the maximum cumulative score for the 3 days was 18 points. Clinical outcomes at 3 months were evaluated using each severity score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of back pain, lower limb pain, and numbness of the lower limb. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were used to examine the correlation between the change in each severity score of the 3-day CAS with the JOABPEQ and the change in the VAS of back pain, lower limb pain, and numbness of the lower limb.

Results:

The 3-day CAS had a median value of 14.5 (range: 10.0-16.0). The 3-day CAS was significantly positively correlated with the independent item of the JOABPEQ, change in gait dysfunction (rs = 0.452, p = 0.012) and social disability (rs = 0.458, p = 0.011).

Conclusion(s):

Early acquisition of basic mobility in postoperative LSS patients was associated with positive clinical outcomes after 3 months. Early acquisition of basic mobility may contribute to improved clinical outcomes 3 months postoperatively. 

Implications:

Early acquisition of basic mobility in postoperative LSS patients may contribute not only to shorter hospital stays and prevention of secondary disability, but also to positive clinical outcomes 3 months postoperatively. 

Funding acknowledgements:
The study had no funding support.
Keywords:
lumber spinal stenosis
cumulated ambulation score
Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire
Primary topic:
Musculoskeletal: spine
Second topic:
Orthopaedics
Third topic:
Older people
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Tottori University School of Medicine Ethics Review Committee
Provide the ethics approval number:
23A052
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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