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A systematic review of bio-psychosocial risk factors for an unfavourable outcome after lumbar disc surgery

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Abstract

The objective of this systematic review is to summarize scientific evidence concerning the predictive value of bio-psychosocial risk factors with regard to the outcome after lumbar disc surgery. Medical and psychological databases were used to locate potentially relevant articles, which resulted in the selection of 11 studies. Each of these studies has a prospective design that examined the predictive value of preoperative variables for the outcome of lumbar disc surgery. Results indicated that socio-demographic, clinical, work-related as well as psychological factors predict lumbar disc surgery outcome. Findings showed relatively consistently that a lower level of education, a higher level of preoperative pain, less work satisfaction, a longer duration of sick leave, higher levels of psychological complaints and more passive avoidance coping function as predictors of an unfavourable outcome in terms of pain, disability, work capacity, or a combination of these outcome measures. The results of this review provide preliminary opportunities to select patients at risk for an unfavourable outcome. However, further systematic and methodologically high quality research is required, particularly for those predictors that can be positively influenced by multidisciplinary interventions.

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Acknowledgements

The research described in this article was conducted in accordance to with the rules and regulations set by the ethical committee (CMO) of the UMC Radboud and the Dutch government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, UMC Radboud, PO Box 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Jasper J. den Boer & Marten Munneke

  2. Centre of Quality and Care (WOK), PO Box 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Rob A. B. Oostendorp & Margreet Oerlemans

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, PO Box 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Tjemme Beems

  4. Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Centre Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Andrea W. M. Evers

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  1. Jasper J. den Boer
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  2. Rob A. B. Oostendorp
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  3. Tjemme Beems
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  4. Marten Munneke
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  5. Margreet Oerlemans
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  6. Andrea W. M. Evers
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Correspondence to Jasper J. den Boer.

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This research was funded by a grant from the RVVZ (Reserves Voormalige Vrijwillige Ziekenfondsverzekering).

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den Boer, J.J., Oostendorp, R.A.B., Beems, T. et al. A systematic review of bio-psychosocial risk factors for an unfavourable outcome after lumbar disc surgery. Eur Spine J 15, 527–536 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0910-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0910-x

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