{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Lumbar radiculopathy can be managed non-surgically or surgically; however, comparative changes in quality of life and functional status between these treatment pathways remain clinically relevant. Therefore, this study aimed to compare six-month outcomes in patients treated non-surgically and those treated with lumbar microdiscectomy followed by rehabilitation. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized comparative cohort study included 100 patients with discogenic lumbar radiculopathy: 50 treated non-surgically and 50 treated by lumbar microdiscectomy. Both groups underwent medical rehabilitation and were assessed at admission, three months, and six months using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), including the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: PCS improved from 35.5 to 50.8 in the non-surgical group and from 28.8 to 49.2 in the surgical group. PCS was significantly higher in non-surgically treated patients at admission (p < 0.001) and three months (p < 0.05), whereas the difference was not significant at six months (p = 0.064). No between-group differences were found for MCS at admission, three months, or six months (p = 0.104, p = 0.871, and p = 0.323, respectively). ODI decreased from 51.5% to 22.5% in the non-surgical group and from 56.1% to 23.7% in the surgical group, without significant between-group differences at any assessment (p = 0.109, p = 0.162, and p = 0.427). Conclusions: Both treatment pathways were associated with substantial improvement. The initial between-group difference in physical quality of life diminished during follow-up, while mental quality of life and disability outcomes were similar between groups.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Medical Sciences, State University of Novi Pazar, 36300 Novi Pazar, Serbia",
    "Department of Psychology, State University of Novi Pazar, 36300 Novi Pazar, Serbia"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elvis Mahmutović",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1849-868X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Teodora Safiye",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9297-8449"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Slaviša Minić"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vesna Zeljković"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zoran Bajin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zerina Salihagić",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1909-4727"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aldina Ajdinović",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7606-8672"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hristina Komatina"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Medina Gusinac Bošnjak"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Almasa Sokolović"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zana Dolićanin",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0457-3087"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emir Biševac"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7k9f54et5gkb2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/jcm15218462",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7k9f54et5gkb2",
  "issns": [
    "2077-0383"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8462",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7k9f54et5gkb2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T00:21:07Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/jcm15218462",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8462"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Six-Month Analysis of Quality of Life and Functional Status",
  "title_text": "Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Six-Month Analysis of Quality of Life and Functional Status",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-01T00:21:04Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7k9f54et5gkb2",
  "venue": "Journal of Clinical Medicine",
  "versions": []
}