Demographic Characteristics and Medical Service Use of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Patients at an Integrated Treatment Hospital Focusing on Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Retrospective Review of Electronic Medical Records
Table 1
Patient characteristics at baseline ().
Sex, % male
441 (62%)
Mode of onsetf
Age, mean years (SD)
50.20 (15.15)
No specific cause
395 (59%)
Occupation
Continuous pain persisting or aggravated after surgery
137 (19%)
Unemployeda
163 (23%)
Sprain
122 (17%)
Office workb
154 (22%)
Trauma
24 (3%)
Service or retail industryc
67 (9%)
Numeric Rating Scale
Manual labord
32 (5%)
1~3
32 (4%)
Other
262 (37%)
4~6
166 (24%)
Unknown
29 (4%)
7~10
281 (40%)
Comorbidity
Missing values
228 (32%)
Hypertension (%)
134 (19%)
Prior treatment
Diabetes mellitus (%)
65 (9%)
None
333 (47%)
Low back pain
629 (90%)
Pharmacologic therapyg
233 (33%)
Leg pain
471 (67%)
Physical therapyh
146 (21%)
Unilateral leg pain
344 (49%)
Traditional Korean medicine therapyi
117 (17%)
Bilateral leg pain
127 (18%)
Nerve block(s)j
101 (14%)
Number of surgeries
1.16 (0.41)
Percutaneous epidural neuroplasty
29 (4%)
Recommendation for repeat surgery
114 (16%)
Diagnosis at surgeryk
Limited lumbar range of motion with paine
220 (31%)
Herniation of nucleus pulposus
590 (84%)
Length of current pain episode, mean months (SD)
13.93 (23.24)
Spinal stenosis
88 (13%)
Number of inpatients at study site (%)
111 (16%)
Vertebral fracture
12 (2%)
Average period of hospital stay
21.72 (11.91)
Othersl
38 (5%)
Onset
Number of patients with MRI/CT scan(s) after surgery
484 (64%)
Acute (≤1 month)
158 (22%)
Number of patients with MRI/CT scan(s) at study site after surgery
288 (41%)
Subacute (1–6 months)
51 (8%)
Number of patients with MRI/CT scan(s) after surgery at other clinics or hospitals
196 (28%)
Chronic (>6 months)
498 (70%)
Average number of MRI/CT scans, mean(SD)m
0.85 (0.96)
Period to pain recurrence in patients with recurrent low back pain after surgery as diagnosed through positive MRI scans, mean months (SD)
50.67 (66.46)
SD = standard deviation.
aHousewife/student/retired.
bOffice worker/public servant/professional practitioner.
cSelf-employed/service or retail industry worker.
dAgriculture, forestry, fishery, or mining industry worker/equipment mechanic or machinery operator/professional soldier.
eNumber of patients with positive physical examination findings including lumbar flexion, extension, right lateral bending, and left lateral bending.
f14 patients were excluded due to pain complaints of nonmedical origin.
gMuscle relaxation, antineuropathic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drugs, and opioids.
hPhysiotherapy, occupational therapy, and exercise therapy.
iAcupuncture, Chuna, pharmacopuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine.
jCaudal epidural blocks and nerve root blocks. kDiagnosis for surgery as recalled by patients.
lAny self-reported spinal disorders, including spondylolisthesis, spinal abscess, spinal meningiomas, myelitis, scoliosis, and viral encephalomyelitis.
mAverage number of MRI/CT scans performed after surgery at any site.
