Research Article: Clinical and imaging impact of diabetes mellitus on elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective propensity score-matched study with ?5-year follow-up
Abstract:
Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression (PTED) is an effective minimally invasive procedure for elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical and imaging effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly patients with LSS treated with PTED.
From January 2016 to December 2019, this study retrospectively reviewed 232 patients with single-level LSS who underwent PTED, comprising 45 patients with DM and 187 without DM. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance baseline covariates between the DM and non-DM groups. Demographic data, clinical scores, radiographic parameters, complications, and reoperation rates were collected and compared.
After PSM, 74 patients were included, with a follow-up duration of 60–108?months. Compared with the DM group, the non-DM group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in visual analog scale scores for low back pain and leg pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, and Oswestry Disability Index at 24?months postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( p <?0.05). The non-DM group demonstrated a higher ratio of greyscale value than the DM group at 24?months postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( p <?0.05). The DM group showed a more pronounced decrease in disc height index and a higher proportion of high-grade multifidus fatty atrophy at the last follow-up ( p <?0.05). The excellent-and-good rate based on the modified MacNab criteria at the last follow-up was higher in the non-DM group than in the DM group ( p <?0.05). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of complications or reoperation rates between the two groups ( p >?0.05).
Elderly patients with LSS and DM demonstrated poorer long-term clinical outcomes after PTED. DM was associated with more severe intervertebral disc degeneration and greater fat infiltration of the multifidus muscles. Stricter postoperative glycemic control and comprehensive management of muscle function are required for elderly patients with LSS and DM.
Introduction:
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a prevalent degenerative spinal disorder, particularly in the elderly population ( 1 ). It is characterized by central canal narrowing, lateral recess, and/or intervertebral foramina secondary to pathologies, such as disc herniation, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, and facet joint osteophytes, leading to nerve roots and/or cauda equina compression and causing a clinical syndrome typified by neurogenic intermittent claudication ( 1 , 2 ). Surgery is the mainstay of management for…
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