约70%-85%成年人在一生中的某些时间点会经历腰痛。[4]Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low back pain. Lancet. 1999 Aug 14;354(9178):581-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10470716?tool=bestpractice.com 经过或未经治疗,约90%的患者在起病后3个月内症状消失。[4]Andersson GB. Epidemiological features of chronic low back pain. Lancet. 1999 Aug 14;354(9178):581-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10470716?tool=bestpractice.com 多数椎间盘性背痛的急性加重可在4周内缓解。[165]Pengel LH, Herbert RD, Maher CG, et al. Acute low back pain: systematic review of its prognosis. BMJ. 2003 Aug 9;327(7410):323.http://www.bmj.com/content/327/7410/323.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12907487?tool=bestpractice.com
腰痛的自然病程提示初始对所有患者进行保守治疗是合理的。然而,对于表现出神经急症以及存在危险信号(夜间痛、无法解释的体重减轻、发热、已知的恶性肿瘤病史、静脉吸毒或结核病暴露)的患者,应进行急诊影像学检查,并对潜在的特定病变进行治疗。一旦所有保守治疗方案用尽或者如果症状表明需要,则可能需要进行外科干预。
复发常见;然而,并不严重。 仅有小部分(5%)急性腰痛发作者发展为慢性腰痛及相关残疾。[94]Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Thomas S. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. BMJ. 2006 Jun 17;332(7555):1430-4.http://www.bmj.com/content/332/7555/1430?view=long&pmid=16777886http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16777886?tool=bestpractice.com
术后结局:研究显示,与接受非手术治疗的患者相比,一组知情度高并经选择的、患有严重慢性腰痛 (LBP) 的患者接受融合手术后,具有优越的结果。[135]Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P, et al. 2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies: Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001 Dec 1;26(23):2521-32; discussion 2532-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11725230?tool=bestpractice.com 几种因素被认为与融合后手术效果有关。有趣的是,手术结局不佳与工伤补偿、既往腰部手术次数、低收入、年龄增长和诉讼相关。[166]DeBerard MS, Masters KS, Colledge AL, et al. Outcomes of posterolateral lumbar fusion in Utah patients receiving workers' compensation: A retrospective cohort study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001 Apr 1;26(7):738-46; discussion 747.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11295891?tool=bestpractice.com[167]Franklin GM, Haug J, Heyer NJ, et al. Outcome of lumbar fusion in Washington State workers' compensation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1994 Sep 1;19(17):1897-903; discussion 1904.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7997921?tool=bestpractice.com 另一项研究显示吸烟,抑郁和诉讼是导致融合成功却效果不佳的预期性因素。[168]LaCaille RA, DeBerard MS, Masters KS, et al. Presurgical biopsychosocial factors predict multidimensional patient: outcomes of interbody cage lumbar fusion. Spine J. 2005 Jan-Feb;5(1):71-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15653087?tool=bestpractice.com 尽管脊柱手术在不断演化中应用改进的导航及更有效的药物,一项回顾性文献指出融合的效果尚存争议。[135]Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P, et al. 2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies: Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001 Dec 1;26(23):2521-32; discussion 2532-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11725230?tool=bestpractice.com[169]Gibson JN, Grant IC, Waddell G. The Cochrane review of surgery for lumbar disc prolapse and degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999 Sep 1;24(17):1820-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10488513?tool=bestpractice.com[170]Mirza SK, Deyo RA. Systematic review of randomized trials comparing lumbar fusion surgery to nonoperative care for treatment of chronic back pain. Spine. 2007 Apr 1;32(7):816-23.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17414918?tool=bestpractice.com 一项系统性回顾研究运动员腰椎间盘突出保守治疗及手术治疗的疗效,发现运动员回归起初运动水平的百分比在保守治疗位78.9%,微创椎间盘切除为85.1%,经皮椎间盘切除为69.9%。[171]Iwamoto J, Sato Y, Takeda T, et al. The return to sports activity after conservative or surgical treatment in athletes with lumbar disc herniation. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Dec;89(12):1030-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20881585?tool=bestpractice.com