Does coexistence of pain and depression predict poor 2-year surgery outcome among lumbar spinal stenosis patients?
Even moderately increased VAS and BDI scores, when presenting simultaneously on an individual patient level during the early postoperative period, imply a strong clinical burden and a risk factor for poor recovery. The assessment of pain and depressive symptoms is encouraged.
These results highlight the enhanced clinical effectiveness of not just recommending the quitline to parents but also offering them enrollment in the quitline at the time of their child's visit to the pediatric office.