The NORDSTEN Studies/The Observational Cohort Study

The NORDSTEN- OS(Observational study) aim to study the natural course in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis with and without degenerative spondylolisthesis. 10 years follow-up is planned.

The NORDSTEN-OS is one of three studies in The NORwegian Degenerative Spondylolisthesis and Spinal STENosis studies.

The two other studies are:

NORDSTEN-SST (Spinal stenosis trial) (NCT02007083); a randomized controlled trial comparing the clinical and radiological results in three different decompression techniques in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The NORDSTEN-DS (Degenerative spondylolisthesis) (NCT02051374); a randomized controlled trial comparing the outcome of surgery with decompression without fixation and decompression with fixation in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and concurrent degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Objectives:

1. A longitudinal observation of clinical- and radiological development with 5- and 10 years follow-up. Variables predicting clinical deterioration or improvement, and outcome measurements including time from inclusion to time for surgery, will be analyzed. We will use predictive models appropriate to the type of data each prognostic outcome measure represents. For example the repeated pain and disability measures will be analysed using linear mixed models. Logistic regression models with no more than 1 variable per 10 events will be used to analyse associations between prognostic factors and disability. Multivariate analysis will identify the predictive prognostic factors in the demographic, physical, social and radiological domains. The number of factors that will be entered in the multivariate analysis will be condensed by univariate pre-testing and omitting highly correlated factors. The prognostic value of both single and combined variables will be addressed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios in a standard way.

   Time to surgery will be modeled using Kaplan-Meier plot. Depending on number of treated patients the effect of selected covariates on time to surgery will be evaluated using the Cox model.
2. 1) To investigate differences between patients in the observational cohort and patients treated surgically in NORDSTEN-SST and NORDSTEN-DS, by comparing baseline demographic-, clinical-, and radiological data. Patients in the NORDSTEN-OS with lumbar spinal stenosis and a verified degenerative spondylolisthesis of ≥ 3mm will be compared to patients in the NORDSTEN-DS. Patients in the NORDSTEN-OS with lumbar spinal stenosis without degenerative spondylolisthesis will be compared to patients in the NORDSTEN-SST. We will use descriptive statistics to compare the patient groups. For each of the variables we will compare measures of central tendency such as mean and median, and measures of variability such as variance and quantiles. We will also plot distributions of certain variables using histograms or fitted densities, in order to easier compare and see similarities and differences between the groups.

Baseline data Demographical data: Age, gender, BMI, education and native language. Status regarding: marriage, smoking, work and disability benefits.

Clinical data: duration of symptoms (back pain and leg pain) and use of analgetics, Patient reported outcome measures: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI 2.0), Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, EQ-5D and Numeric Rating Scale for leg pain and back pain. Hopkins symptom check list (HSCL-25) HSCL-25 is a PROM for assessment of psychological variables. It covers emotional distress, scores range from 1 to 4, with lower scores indicating less severe symptoms.

Radiological data: Standing x-rays; anterior-posterior (AP), lateral and functional images (lateral- extension and flexion) and MRI.

Radiological evaluations Standing x-ray with functional images and MRI will be performed at baseline-, 5-, and 10 years follow-up. Additionally, patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and concomitant degenerative spondylolisthesis at baseline undergo functional radiographs at 2 years follow-up. One musculoskeletal radiologist and two surgeons (Orthopedic surgeon and Neurosurgeon) will perform the radiological interpretations using Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), Sectra, Sweden.

MRI of the lumbar spine, including T1 and T2 sequences in the axial and sagittal planes. The following variables will be measured:

Measurements quantifying the degree of stenosis:

Morphologic grading according to the method described by Schizas et al. The grading is based on the cerebrospinal fluid/rootlet ratio, and is scaled from A-D, where A is no stenosis, B moderate stenosis, C severe stenosis and D extreme stenosis.

Measurements from sagittal plane T1 MRI sequences for grading of foraminal stenosis using the method of Lee et al.

The presence or absence of redundant nerve root sign.

Measurements when degenerative spondylolisthesis is present:

Measurement of the facet joint orientation will be done by MRI images in the transverse plan using the method of Berleman et al.

Degree of disc degeneration according to Pfirrmann et al and Modic et al. Qualitative measurement of facet joint fluid.

Qualitative measurement of disc height.

Skeletal x-rays:Standard images; frontal and lateral view of L1 to S1 in standing position.Extension- and flexion images; lateral view of L1 to S1 with respectively maximal flexion and maximal extension.

Measurement of lumbar lordosis (L1-S1),sacral slope Measurements from the radiographs for calculating vertebral sagittal olisthesis and segmental instability will use the method of Dupuis et al.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Presence of clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis. Neurogenic claudication or radiating pain to one or both lower limbs
* Radiological findings corresponding to the clinical symptoms of LSS. Central stenosis or lateral recess stenosis with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis
* Able to understand Norwegian language, both spoken and written
* Able to give informed consent and to answer the questionnaires
* Over 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not willing to give written consent
* Participation in other clinical trial that may interfere with this trial
* American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 4 or 5
* Age older than 80 years
* Not able to comply fully with the protocol, including treatment, follow-up or study procedures (psychosocially, mentally and physically)
* Presence of cauda equina syndrome (bowel and bladder dysfunction) or complete motor deficit
* Presence of an isthmic defect in pars interarticularis
* Former fracture of the thoracolumbar region
* Previous surgery in the lumbar region
* Distinct symptoms in one or both legs due to other diseases, e.g. polyneuropathy, vascular claudication or osteoarthritis
* Lumbosacral scoliosis of more than 20 degrees verified on standing x-ray AP-view