Depression, social factors, and pain perception before and after surgery for lumbar and cervical degenerative vertebral disc disease

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of psychosocial factors on pain levels and depression, before and after surgical treatment, in patients with degenerative lumbar and cervical vertebral disc disease.Patients and methodsThe study included 188 patients (98 women, 90 men) who were confirmed to have cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease on magnetic resonance imaging, and who underwent a single microdiscectomy procedure, with no postoperative surgical complications. All patients completed two questionnaires before and after surgery – the Beck Depression Inventory scale (I–IV) and the Visual Analog Scale for pain (0–10). On hospital admission, all patients completed a social and demographic questionnaire. The first pain and depression questionnaire evaluations were performed on the day of hospital admission (n=188); the second on the day of hospital discharge, 7 days after surgery (n=188); and the third was 6 months after surgery (n=140).ResultsPatient ages ranged from 22 to 72 years, and 140 patients had lumbar disc disease (mean age, 42.7±10.99 years) and 44 had cervical disc disease (mean age, 48.9±7.85 years). Before surgery, symptoms of depression were present in 47.3% of the patients (11.7% cervical; 35.6% lumbar), at first postoperative evaluation in 25.1% of patients (7% cervical; 18.1% lumbar), and 6 months following surgery in 31.1% of patients (7.5% cervical; 23.6% lumbar). Patients with cervical disc disease who were unemployed had the highest incidence of depression before and after surgery (p=0.037). Patients with lumbar disc disease who had a primary level of education or work involving standing had the highest incidence of depression before and after surgery (p=0.368).ConclusionThis study highlighted the association between social and demographic factors, pain perception, and depression that may persist despite surgical treatment for degenerative vertebral disc disease.

Mesenchymal stem cells: amazing remedies for bone and cartilage defects

“…However, they are only pain-relieving strategies in most cases and do not eliminate the underlying reason or restore the lost functions. Therefore, researchers are looking for novel therapeutics in order to regenerate DDD [ 88 , 94 , 95 ]. The best defining characteristics of DDD are the accumulation of senescent cells as well as reduction in the number of functional cells [ 95 ].…”

The Role of Cervical Muscles Morphology in the Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease: Clinical Correlations Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies

“…Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the most frequently encountered conditions in everyday clinical practice resulting in chronic back and neck pain, spinal instability and inevitably in functionality impairment [ 1 , 2 ]. The diminution of quality of life and depressive illness are some of the common findings among patients with DDD [ 2 , 3 ]. There is a consensus among scientists regarding the mechanism of DDD that aging along with environmental and genetic factors lead to cellular and structural alterations of the intervertebral disk, affecting its mechanic properties [ 2 , 4 , 5 ].…”

The Impact of Selected Demographic and Clinical Factors on the Social and Economic Situation of Patients after Surgical Treatment of Lumbosacral Discopathy

“…After the surgery, the average pain scores improved (201.3%), the degree of disability regressed (39.7%), the physical quality of life improved (42%) and the mental sphere improved (37.8%). In turn, studies conducted by Jabłońska et al [17] showed that before surgery of the lumbar spine, symptoms of depression were present in 35.6% of patients, while in the first postoperative evaluation in 18.1% of patients, and 6 months after surgery in 23.6% of patients. There was also a statistically significant correlation (t = 0.361; p = 0.000) between pain and depression 1 week after surgery (second rating) and 6 months after surgery (t = 0.563; p = 0.000) (third rating).…”