Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Six-Month Analysis of Quality of Life and Functional Status
- 1Department of Medical Sciences, State University of Novi Pazar, 36300 Novi Pazar, Serbia
- 2Department of Psychology, State University of Novi Pazar, 36300 Novi Pazar, Serbia
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.
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BibTeX
@article{mahmutovic2026comparative,
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}},
author = {Elvis Mahmutović and Teodora Safiye and Slaviša Minić and Vesna Zeljković and Zoran Bajin and Zerina Salihagić and Aldina Ajdinović and Hristina Komatina and Medina Gusinac Bošnjak and Almasa Sokolović and Zana Dolićanin and Emir Biševac},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218462},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8462},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparative Outcomes of Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Six-Month Analysis of Quality of Life and Functional Status
AU - Elvis Mahmutović
AU - Teodora Safiye
AU - Slaviša Minić
AU - Vesna Zeljković
AU - Zoran Bajin
AU - Zerina Salihagić
AU - Aldina Ajdinović
AU - Hristina Komatina
AU - Medina Gusinac Bošnjak
AU - Almasa Sokolović
AU - Zana Dolićanin
AU - Emir Biševac
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218462
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8462
AB - 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.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -