Document Classification

Section Type: RESULTS

Text: When the values at the time of the four-year follow-up were compared with the baseline values, patients in the operative treatment group who had had symptoms for six months or less had a greater increase in the bodily pain domain of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) (mean change, 48. 3 compared with 41. 9 ; p < 0. 001), a greater increase in the physical function domain of the SF-36 (mean change, 47. 7 compared with 41. 2 ; p < 0. 001), and a greater decrease in the Oswestry Disability Index score (mean change, -41. 1 compared with -34. 6 ; p < 0. 001) as compared with those who had had symptoms for more than six months (with higher scores indicating less severe symptoms on the SF-36 and indicating more severe symptoms on the Oswestry Disability Index).