Prognostic Value Of The SF-36 Questionnaire In The Surgical Treatment Of Degenerative Spinal Stenosis

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), measured with the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey-36) questionnaire, for the success of surgical treatment of degenerative spinal stenosis. Methods 108 patients (mean age 73.2 years, 61.1% male) were included. The success of surgical treatment was defined by the minimal clinically important difference (MCID): a decrease in ODI by 1.5 points, a decrease in VAS by 1 point, or an increase in the total SF-36 score by 15 points. Paired-sample t-test, Spearman correlation analysis, and ROC analysis were used to assess the prognostic value. Results A statistically significant improvement was reported in all parameters after surgery (p < 0.001 for all). The mean ODI index decreased from 3.15 to 2.19, the VAS score from 2.51 to 1.60, and the SF-36 increased from 49.11 to 69.02 points. ROC analysis demonstrated excellent predictive ability of the baseline SF-36 for determining surgical success (AUC = 0.951). Conclusion Preoperative quality of life, measured by the SF-36, is a strong and independent predictor of the success of surgical treatment of degenerative spinal stenosis.