Table 2 Patient-reported back and leg pain (Numeric Rating Scale; NRS) before and 1, 7, and 14 days after surgery in 50 patients aged 51–85 years who underwent decompression due to central lumbar spinal stenosis (CLSS)

NRS back pain

 All (n = 50)

5.4 (4.6, 6.1)

5.2 (4.5, 5.9)

4.6 (3.9, 5.2)

3.8 (3.1, 4.5)

0.61

0.02

 Men (n = 25)

5.4 (4.4, 6.5)

4.8 (3.8, 5.9)

4.0 (3.1, 4.9)

3.5 (2.5, 4.6)

0.37

0.17

 Women (n = 25)

5.3 (4.1, 6.5)

5.5 (4.5, 6.4)

5.1 (4.2, 6.0)

4.1 (3.1, 5.1)

0.78

0.10

 p value (men vs. women)

0.87

0.36

0.09

0.39

–

–

NRS leg pain

 All (n = 50)

7.2 (6.7, 7.8)

2.0 (1.3, 2.7)

2.8 (2.0, 3.5)

2.4 (1.7, 3.1)

 < 0.001

0.33

 Men (n = 25)

7.0 (6.3, 7.8)

1.6 (0.6, 2.5)

2.1 (1.1, 3.1)

1.8 (0.8, 2.8)

 < 0.001

0.75

 Women (n = 25)

7.4 (6.6, 8.3)

2.5 (1.5, 3.5)

3.4 (2.4, 4.5)

3.0 (1.9, 4.0)

 < 0.001

0.40

 p value (men vs. women)

0.48

0.17

0.06

0.12

–

–