Gender Disparities in Decision-Making and Outcomes in Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis
Abstract
Aim: The objective of this study is to explore gender differences in decision-making and outcomes in lumbar spine surgery.
Material and Method: In this retrospective analysis, 74 patients (42 women and 32 men) who had lumbar spine surgery at İstinye University's Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital between January 2023 and April 2024 were included. Sociodemographics, surgical choices, comorbidities, and medication use were among the data gathered; these were examined to find variations.
Results: Women were more likely to attend appointments with family members and to have surgery at their initial consultation. In addition, women were more likely than men to have smoked, had had previous surgery, and used antidepressants. In terms of surgical operations, stabilizing procedures were more commonly assigned to women. Additionally, compared to patients with only a primary school education, those with better educational backgrounds—especially those who have graduated from university—tended to make judgments faster. Preoperative discomfort and impairment were higher among women, according to the results.
Conclusion: Comorbidities, gender, and educational background have a big influence on lumbar spine surgical decision-making and results. By addressing these issues in therapeutic settings, it may be possible to improve patient care and lessen treatment and recovery inequities.
Keywords
Gender disparities lumbar spine surgery decision-making patient outcomes educational status
Ethical Statement
Institutional review board approval was obtained from İstinye University, Faculty of Medicine (Protocol No: 24-215, 22.11.2024).
References
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Abstract
References
- Rathore SS, Chen J, Wang Y, et al. Sex differences in cardiac catheterization: the role of physician gender. JAMA. 2001;286:2849-56.
- Spörri R, Joller N, Hilbi H, Oxenius A. A novel role for neutrophils as critical activators of NK cells. J Immunol. 2008;181:7121-30.
- Skvortsova A, Meeuwis SH, Vos RC, et al. Implicit gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes: a randomized online study. Diabet Med. 2023;40:e15087.
- Sempere L, Bernabeu P, Cameo J, et al. Gender biases and diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel disease: multicenter observational study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2023;29:1886-94.
- Claréus B, Renström EA. Physicians' gender bias in the diagnostic assessment of medically unexplained symptoms and its effect on patient-physician relations. Scand J Psychol. 2019;60:338-47.
- Seo W, Muroi S, Akiyama K, Taniuchi I. Distinct requirement of Runx complexes for TCRβ enhancer activation at distinct developmental stages. Sci Rep. 2017;7:41351.
- MacLean MA, Charest-Morin R, Stratton A, et al. Gender differences in spine surgery for degenerative lumbar disease: prospective cohort study. J Neurosurg Spine. 2024;42:24-32.
- Siccoli A, Staartjes VE, de Wispelaere MP, Schröder ML. Gender differences in degenerative spine surgery: do female patients really fare worse?. Eur Spine J. 2018;27:2427-35.
- Strömqvist F, Strömqvist B, Jönsson B, Karlsson MK. Gender differences in patients scheduled for lumbar disc herniation surgery: a National Register Study including 15,631 operations. Eur Spine J. 2016;25:162-7.
- MacLean MA, Touchette CJ, Han JH, et al. Gender differences in the surgical management of lumbar degenerative disease: a scoping review. J Neurosurg Spine. 2020;32:799-816.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Brain and Nerve Surgery (Neurosurgery) |
| Journal Section | Original Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | May 9, 2025 |
| Submission Date | February 10, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | February 27, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 7 Issue: 2 |
Chief Editors
Assoc. Prof. Zülal Öner
İzmir Bakırçay University, Department of Anatomy, İzmir, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Deniz Şenol
Düzce University, Department of Anatomy, Düzce, Türkiye
Editors
Assoc. Prof. Serkan Öner
İzmir Bakırçay University, Department of Radiology, İzmir, Türkiye
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