Are Modic Changes Associated With Health-related Quality of Life After Discectomy: A Study on 620 Patients With Two-year Follow-up

Study Design. A registry-based comparative cohort study with 2-year follow-up. Objective. To assess whether Modic changes (MCs) are associated with health-related quality of life, long-term physical disability, back- or leg pain after discectomy. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have failed to show a clinically significant association between MCs and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after discectomy. Methods. Data from the Danish National Spine Registry on patients undergoing first-time lumbar discectomy at a single institution from 2014 to 2017 with an accessible preoperative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, complete preoperative, and 2-year follow-up questionnaires were obtained. PROs including Oswestry disability index (ODI), European Quality of Life—Five Dimensions (EQ-5D), visual analogue scale (VAS) back and leg pain, and patient satisfaction were collected. Patients were stratified based on the presence (+MC) or absence (−MC) of MCs on the preoperative MRI. Results. Of 620 patients included, MCs were present in 290 patients (47%). Of these, MC type 1 (MC-1) was present in 73 (25%) and MC type 2 (MC-2) in 217 (75%) patients. Preoperative data for ODI, EQ-5D, VAS-BP, and VAS-LP were comparable for the +MC and −MC groups. Both groups had a statistically significant improvement in PROs from baseline compared with 2-year follow-up (P 
Source: Spine - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: CLINICAL CASE SERIES Source Type: research