Surgery helps with type of back pain

LEBANON, N.H., June 29 (UPI) -- For back pain -- degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis -- surgery provides better results than non-surgical alternatives, found a U.S. study.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis is a condition in which breakdown of the cartilage between the vertebrae of the spine causes one vertebra to slip over the one below. This can result in narrowing of the spinal column -- spinal stenosis, which can put pressure on the nerves, resulting in pain in the buttocks or legs with walking or standing.

Dartmouth Medical School researchers followed 601 patients diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis and symptomatic spinal stenosis -- 372 received a surgery called decompressive laminectomy, removing bone and soft tissue to relieve pressure on the nerves, while 235 pursued nonoperative treatments such as physical therapy, steroid injections and analgesic medications.

Two years later, patients in the nonoperative groups reported modest improvement in their condition; however, patients who had the surgery reported significantly reduced pain and improved function, according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.