Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction: Lumbar radiculopathy is a common clinical problem and remains a controversial diagnosis at fundamental levels, including its diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and optimal treatment. Patients with lumbar radiculopathy may improve with either conservative or surgical treatment; the specific treatment chosen is based on patient preferences, priorities of care, and comorbidities. However, there is limited evidence from clinical studies to support treatment choice in daily practice. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize evidence regarding the recurrence of symptoms following conservative treatments and surgical treatments for patients with lumbar radiculopathy.
Methods: The review was conducted using the OneSearch database with a specific emphasis on finding potential predictors of recurrence of pain, including time to symptom resolution, sociodemographics, work-related factors, and baseline pain levels.
Results: Studies reveal varying rates and patterns of symptom recurrence among patients treated with medical interventions. Conservative treatments, including physical therapy and pharmacological approaches, demonstrated mixed outcomes in terms of symptom recurrence. Conservative treatment is usually considered appropriate for patients without clear anatomic abnormalities. While some patients experienced sustained relief, others faced recurrent symptoms over time, influenced by factors such as treatment duration and adherence. Surgical treatments result in long-term improvement, with sensory deficits improving first, followed by pain and motor function. Although surgical outcomes are promising, the rates of surgical complications may require reoperation due to failure of surgery to resolve symptoms or failure of pain cessation altogether, making medical management necessary.
Conclusions: There are no prospective controlled studies to guide physicians in the comprehensive management of patients with recurrence of symptoms from medical and surgical treatments for lumbar radiculopathy, although a few randomized controlled trials address these modalities in the symptomatic treatment of back pain. A standardized approach based on collaboration among a primary care physician, back surgeon, physical therapist, psychiatrist, and, if required, a pain management specialist would be the best course of action in the management of these patients.
Embargo Period
5-28-2025
Included in
Recurrence of symptoms following conservative and surgical treatment for lumbar radiculopathy: A literature review
Suwanee, GA
Introduction: Lumbar radiculopathy is a common clinical problem and remains a controversial diagnosis at fundamental levels, including its diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and optimal treatment. Patients with lumbar radiculopathy may improve with either conservative or surgical treatment; the specific treatment chosen is based on patient preferences, priorities of care, and comorbidities. However, there is limited evidence from clinical studies to support treatment choice in daily practice. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize evidence regarding the recurrence of symptoms following conservative treatments and surgical treatments for patients with lumbar radiculopathy.
Methods: The review was conducted using the OneSearch database with a specific emphasis on finding potential predictors of recurrence of pain, including time to symptom resolution, sociodemographics, work-related factors, and baseline pain levels.
Results: Studies reveal varying rates and patterns of symptom recurrence among patients treated with medical interventions. Conservative treatments, including physical therapy and pharmacological approaches, demonstrated mixed outcomes in terms of symptom recurrence. Conservative treatment is usually considered appropriate for patients without clear anatomic abnormalities. While some patients experienced sustained relief, others faced recurrent symptoms over time, influenced by factors such as treatment duration and adherence. Surgical treatments result in long-term improvement, with sensory deficits improving first, followed by pain and motor function. Although surgical outcomes are promising, the rates of surgical complications may require reoperation due to failure of surgery to resolve symptoms or failure of pain cessation altogether, making medical management necessary.
Conclusions: There are no prospective controlled studies to guide physicians in the comprehensive management of patients with recurrence of symptoms from medical and surgical treatments for lumbar radiculopathy, although a few randomized controlled trials address these modalities in the symptomatic treatment of back pain. A standardized approach based on collaboration among a primary care physician, back surgeon, physical therapist, psychiatrist, and, if required, a pain management specialist would be the best course of action in the management of these patients.