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BACKGROUND

Conducting randomized controlled trials to measure the outcomes of lumbar spine surgery among patients with low back pain involves many methodological challenges. Using real-world data acquired from observational databases represents an alternative approach to attain evidence pertaining to lumbar spine surgery. This study aimed to measure the long-term pain and functional outcomes of patients with chronic low back pain treated with lumbar spine surgery compared with those receiving usual care.

METHODS

A target trial emulation was performed using data acquired from the national Pain Registry for Epidemiological, Clinical, and Interventional Studies and Innovation from April 2016 to April 2025. Following the exclusion of patients with prior lumbar spine surgery at registry enrollment, propensity scores were used to match 75 patients who subsequently underwent lumbar spine surgery with 75 patients who received usual care. Pain and function were measured for up to 36 months with a numerical rating scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, the mean (SD) age of study patients was 52.5 (13.6) years, and 112 (74.7%) were female. During 952 encounters from 3 through 36 months, patients in the lumbar spine surgery group reported less pain intensity (mean, 5.6; 95% CI, 5.2-6.0) than those in the usual care group (mean, 6.2; 95% CI, 5.8-6.6; P = 0.02). This finding was clinically relevant (Cohen d = 0.32). There was no difference in back-related disability between the lumbar spine surgery and usual care groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This target trial emulation provides evidence on the long-term outcomes of lumbar spine surgery for chronic low back pain in lieu of randomized controlled trials. Lumbar spine surgery was associated with better pain outcomes, but not better function outcomes, over time. Target trial emulation and other studies involving high-quality observational databases may be used to provide evidence pertaining to lumbar spine surgery when conducting a randomized controlled trial is methodologically difficult or not feasible.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lumbar spine surgery yields clinically relevant improvement in low back pain intensity for up to 3 years compared with usual care; however, there is no comparable benefit in functioning.