Comparison among pain, depression, and quality of life in cases with failed back surgery syndrome and non-specific chronic back pain

[Purpose] The aim of this study is to compare patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) with those with non-specific chronic back pain (NSCBP) in terms of pain, depression, and quality of life levels to explain the effects of surgery experience on low-back pain. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 50 patients with FBSS and 51 patients with NSCBP who consecutively applied to the outpatient clinic from September 2012 to April 2013 were included in the study. Patients completed questionnaires on demographics, body mass index, education level, work history, and pain duration (in months). Lumbar pain at rest, during movement, and at night were measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). The Short Form 36 scale was used for evaluating quality of life, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for assessing depression. [Results] VAS scores reporting pain at rest and at night and BDI scores were significantly higher in the FBSS group than in the NSCBP group. Role limitations due to physical functioning, which is one of the measures of quality of life, were significantly higher in the FBSS group than in the NSCBP group. [Conclusion] These assessments show that surgery experience in patients with ongoing low-back pain makes their pain and depression worse.