A study published in European Spine journal demonstrated significant improvement in pain and disability outcomes after first-time lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative disorders.

Niek Koenders and colleagues validated the role of Lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) in managing lumbar degenerative disorders. LSF works effectively by stopping the movement of a painful vertebral segment through various methods. However, there is a lack of evidence of related efficacy and recommendations. To evaluate Lumbar spinal fusion efficacy in reducing pain and disability, Niek Koenders and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients suffering from degenerative issues after the first section of LSF.

A total of four databases were searched up to 31 March 2017 to collect prospective cohort studies. The extracted data, related eligibility and risk of bias were assessed by two independent researchers. Further, the assessment of means and 95% confidence intervals were done through random effects model. The primary survey was done only on complete data, whereas sensitivity analysis involved all data.

The analysis involved 25 studies; 9 of overall pain,9 of leg pain and 12 of disability. The total VAS score was reduced from 64 to 20 and leg pain from 70 to 17 after 24 months of surgery. The disability pain score (ODI) decreased from 44.8 to 17.3 after 24 months of treatment. Homogeneous results were noticed during sensitivity analysis.  

Pain and disability was significantly reduced after first-time LSF for degenerative disorders. Reduction in leg pain lasted for an extended period as compared to disability and axial back pain.