The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Association of
Neurological Surgeons (AANS), AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and
Peripheral Nerves (DSPN), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), International
Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), North American Spine Society
(NASS), and Washington State Association of Neurological Surgeons (WSANS)
Responses to Key Questions for Washington State Health Care Authority Health
Technology Assessment of Surgery for Symptomatic Lumbar Radiculopathy
Efficacy question 1 (EQ1). In adults with symptomatic lumbar radiculopathy, what is the
effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of surgical interventions?
Lumbar radiculopathy is caused by nerve root compression in the lumbar spine. Symptoms include
neuropathic pain, sensory dysfunction, and motor deficits. Treatment for acute radicular pain, in the
absence of neurologic deficit, begins with nonoperative management including medication, physical
therapy, and injections. Nonoperative management is effective for acute radicular pain in
approximately 70-85% of cases at an average of 4-6 weeks.
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