PHS FOI 2026-002420
- Date of request
- 29 May 2026
- Date of response
- 11 June 2026
- FOI request ID
- PHS FOI 2026-002420
- Conditions and diseases
- Performance and monitoring
Request
“I am seeking information regarding spinal decompression surgery in Scotland on patients specifically with sciatica symptoms.
Please provide, the number of patients who underwent a lumbar decompression procedure in Scotland between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2025 (figures for each year during these dates, so from 1st Jan 2018 - 31st December 2018, & same for 2019, 2020, 2021 and so on).
The total number of individual patients with sciatica who had a first lumbar decompression procedure.
1.Of those patients, the number and percentage who subsequently relapsed with sciatica symptoms. Of these patients how many and what percentage underwent:
a) One further lumbar decompression procedure.
b) Two further lumbar decompression procedures.
c) Three or more further lumbar decompression procedures.
2.Where available, please provide the time interval between the first lumbar decompression procedure and the first subsequent lumbar decompression procedure, grouped as:
-Less than 1 year
-1–2 years
-2–5 years
-More than 5 years
- For each procedure carried out, how many reported foot drop symptoms immediately after the procedure?”