Table 2.

Back pain levels preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively, recorded using the Visual Analogue Score for pain

	N	VAP range	Preop	6 weeks postop	1 year postop	6 weeks change (%)	1 year change (%)
All	119	0–2	25	63	65	+152	+160
		3–4	17	21	13	+23.5	−23.5
		5–6	30	14	18	−53.3	−40
		7–8	36	16	16	−55.6	−55.6
		9–10	11	5	7	−54.5	−36.4
Gender
Male	49	0–2	14	26	27	+85.7	+92.9
		3–4	9	8	5	−11.1	−44.4
		5–6	10	4	4	−60	−60
		7–8	12	7	8	−41.7	v33.3
		9–10	4	4	5	0	+25
Female	70	0–2	11	37	38	+236.4	+245.5
		3–4	8	13	8	+62.5	0
		5–6	20	10	14	−50	−30
		7–8	24	9	8	−62.5	−67
		9–10	7	1	2	−85.7	−71.4
Operation
Laminectomy	63	0–2	16	38	36	+137.5	+125
		3–4	9	12	7	+33.3	−22.2
		5–6	18	3	8	−83.3	−55.6
		7–8	15	7	8	−53.3	−46.7
		9–10	5	3	4	−40	−20
Laminotomy	56	0–2	9	25	29	+177.8	+222.2
		3–4	8	9	6	+12.5	−25
		5–6	12	11	10	−8.3	−16.7
		7–8	21	9	8	−57.1	−61.9
		9–10	6	2	3	−66.7	−50
Indication
Spinal stenosis	95	0–2	21	51	51	+142.9	+142.9
		3–4	13	18	12	+38.5	−7.7
		5–6	26	12	15	−53.9	−42.3
		7–8	26	10	14	−61.5	−46.2
		9–10	9	5	5	−44.4	−44.4
Lateral recess stenosis	24	0–2	4	12	14	+200	+250
		3–4	4	3	1	−25	−75
		5–6	4	2	3	−50	−25
		7–8	10	6	4	−40	−60
		9–10	2	0	2	−100	0