Table 2.

The four most frequently reported aspects that were considered essential for the surgical decision-making process

	Decision to perform surgery
	Yes	No	Might consider
Essential aspects	Radiological features (progression)	Absence of pain	Radiological features
	Presence of pain	Absence of disability	Absence/presence of pain
	Presence of disability	Radiological features (stable course)	Absence/presence of disability
	Expected progression of symptoms	Stable clinical course so far	Expected progression of symptoms