Factors associated with long-term deterioration in back pain after surgical treatment for low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis at 2 and 5 years: an evaluation from the Quality Outcomes Database spondylolisthesis data

Most patients (88%) improved after surgery while deterioration was only reported in a few patients (12%). Patients with better back pain scores at baseline were more likely to report deterioration in back pain scores at 2 and 5 years postoperatively. There also appeared to be a trend toward deterioration in those who underwent decompression alone without fusion. These findings highlight the risks of operating on patients with less severe symptoms, as well as the need to improve the understanding of which patients would benefit from fusion. Persistent leg pain and less ODI improvement were also associated with deterioration in back pain scores.