Table 4.

Outcomes

Outcome	Siebenga et al. [45]	Wood et al. [51]		Shen et al. [43]		Hitchon et al. [26]
Total return to work
Operative	85%	63%		73%		–
Nonoperative	38%	83%		67%		–
Time to return to work
Operative	Mean time postinjury = 6.7 months (1–18 months)	Within 6 months after discharge = 42%; within 24 months = 58%		–		–
		24 months or more = 63%
Nonoperative	Mean time = 13.6 months (6–33 months)	Within 6 months = 74%; within 24 months = 83%		–		–
Workload at return to work
Operative	Same profession = 100%	Similar job = 53%		Heavy work = 63%; light work = 90%;		–
		less demanding = 47%
Nonoperative	Same profession = 60%; less demanding job = 40%	Similar job = 79%; less demanding = 21%		Heavy work = 56%; light work = 86%		–
Complications
General
Operative	3	11		1		–
Nonoperative	1	2		0		–
Further surgery owing to complications
Operative	2	6		5		–
Nonoperative	0	0		0		–
Neurologic deterioration
Operative	0	0		0		–
Nonoperative	2	0		0		–
Mean canal stenosis		Time of injury	Followup	Time of injury	Followup
Operative	–	39% (13–63)	22% (0–58)	32% (10–70)	Unavailable	–
Nonoperative	–	34% (5–75)	19% (0–46)	34% (10–70)	15%	–
Cost
Operative	–	$49,063 ($26,517–$102,583)		Operative treatment four times the cost of nonoperative treatment		$45,300 ± $12,400
Nonoperative	–	$11,264 ($4686–$20,891)				$13,900 ± $5400
Mean duration of hospitalization (days)
Operative	14.6 (9–21)	10.7 (6–27)		10.4		–
Nonoperative	12.2 (6–25)	7.9 (2–17)		9.2		–
Patient satisfaction
Operative	–	–		Very satisfied = 30%; satisfied = 55%; unsatisfied = 9%; very unsatisfied = 6%		–
Nonoperative	–	–		Very satisfied = 38%; satisfied = 49%; unsatisfied = 13%		–
Mean followup (months)
Operative	51.6	43		24		21
Nonoperative	51.9	46		24		9