ABSTRACT
Determining which patients are most likely to achieve pain relief and functional improvement from spine surgery is a challenge even to the most experienced spine surgeon. The critical decision of whether and when to operate requires an understanding of the natural history of the condition, the likely outcome following surgery, and the factors that predict outcome. Predicting which patients are unlikely to benefit from surgery is important in order to prevent failed back syndrome and the development of chronic pain. The spine surgeon must identify those prognostic factors that will discriminate between patients who are likely to have favorable outcome following surgery and those who are not. This will enable patients and spine surgeons to have realistic expectations of the outcome following surgery.
