Gender Differences in Pre- and Postoperative Health-Related Quality of Life Measures in Patients Who Have Had Decompression Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Study Design Retrospective chart audit. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the gender difference in pre- and postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients who have had decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Overview of Literature Gender differences may contribute to variations in disease presentations and health outcomes. The influence of gender on pre- and postoperative HRQOL in spinal disorders remains unclear. Methods We reviewed 125 patients (79 men and 46 women) who had lumbar spinous process splitting laminectomy (LSPSL) for LSS. We assessed the following clinical information: Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score; numerical rating scale (NRS) for low back pain (LBP), leg pain, and leg numbness; Zurich Claudication Questionnaire; JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire; Roland- Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ); and Short Form 8 (SF-8) as HRQOL. We compared the HRQOLs of men and women pre- and postoperatively. Results Although the preoperative NRS results for LBP were significantly higher in women (p