A research letter published online in the journal JAMA Surgery compares patient-reported outcomes for older and younger patients following lumbar microdiskectomy. 

Researchers in Norway reviewed registry data on 5,575 patients who underwent lumbar microdiskectomy, 380 of whom were aged 65 years or older at the time of surgery. They found that all patients displayed significant improvement, and there were no age-related differences in terms of improved quality of life or leg pain after surgery. However, the researchers note that patients aged 65 years and older were more likely to experience minor complications, both in the hospital and within 3 months of discharge. Learn more...