• Kevin C Jacob, Madhav R Patel, Grant J Park, Max A Ribot, Alexander W Parsons, Nisheka N Vanjani, Hanna Pawlowski, Michael C Prabhu, and Kern Singh.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• World Neurosurg. 2022 Apr 1; 160: e616-e627.

ObjectiveWe compared the patient-reported outcomes (PROs), minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement, and perceived postoperative satisfaction after minimally invasive lumbar decompression of patients stratified by self-identified gender.MethodsPatients who had undergone single minimally invasive lumbar decompression were identified. The PRO measures were administered preoperatively and postoperatively and included the PRO measurement information system-physical function, visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and 12-item short form physical and mental component scores. The patients were grouped by self-identified gender. Propensity score matching was performed. The mean PROs and postoperative satisfaction scores were compared between cohorts using a 2-sample t test. The postoperative PRO improvement within each cohort was calculated using a paired t test. MCID achievement was determined by comparison to previously established threshold values. The MCID achievement rates were compared among the groups using simple logistic regression.ResultsA total of 128 propensity score-matched patients were included: 44 in the female group and 84 in the male group. The male group demonstrated worse VAS scores for back pain at 12 weeks and a worse ODI at 6 weeks (P < 0.046 for all). The female cohort had achieved greater rates of a MCID for the ODI at 6 months (P < 0.049). Patients in the self-identified female group demonstrated higher levels of postoperative satisfaction for the VAS score for leg pain at 6 and 12 weeks), the VAS score for back pain at 12 weeks, and the ODI at 6 and 12 weeks (P < 0.028 for all). Additionally, patients in the self-identified female group demonstrated greater levels of satisfaction for lifting at 6 and 12 weeks (P < 0.014 for all).ConclusionsDespite the similar preoperative baseline values, postoperative improvement, and clinical outcomes, our results suggest that the self-identified male patients will have poorer short-term satisfaction for disability, leg pain, back pain, and lifting versus patients in the self-identified female group. Self-identified gender might influence patient satisfaction and could be attributed to differing preoperative expectations at baseline for short-term recovery.Published by Elsevier Inc.

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