Effect of self-quarantine due to COVID-19 on low back and leg symptoms in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The effect of self-quarantine and avoiding non-essential outings due to COVID-19 on the symptoms of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) remains unknown. In this prospective study, patients with LSS who self-quarantined from baseline (SQ group; 80 patients) were matched to controls who did not self-quarantine (non-SQ group: 60 patients), based on age, gender, medication, activities of daily living (ADL), and low back symptoms. The change in low back symptoms, ADL, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between baseline and follow-up (after self-quarantine periods) were compared between the groups. Compared to baseline, the NRS score for low back pain at follow-up in SQ group significantly improved, but not in non-SQ group. No significant difference was found regarding changes in leg pain or numbness. Low back pain improvement did not lead to ADL improvement. The Short Form 12 evaluation revealed the role/social component score in SQ group to be lower than that in non-SQ group at follow-up; no difference was found for the physical or mental components. This study revealed self-quarantine with conservative treatment accompanied short-term low back pain improvement in patients with LSS. It might help to understand the situation in the spine department during the COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p>