Table 3.

The four most frequently reported aspects complicating surgical decision making

	Decision to perform surgery
	Yes	No	Might consider
Complicating aspects	Radiological features (complicating surgery)	Radiological features without pain	Radiological features
	Absence of pain	Lack of evidence	Absence/presence of pain
	Progression of symptoms so far	Absence of disability	Unclear prognosis with/without surgery
	Expected progression of symptoms	Stable clinical course so far	Absence/presence of disability