Table 3 Measures of baseline severity and surgical outcomes of the two groups

ODI, %

 Preoperative

58.2 ± 14.1

54.2 ± 12.1

 6 weeks postoperative

20.3 ± 4.2^*

20.8 ± 3.9^*

 16 weeks postoperative

2.2 ± 0.4^**

1.8 ± 0.3^**

VAS

 Preoperative

6.1 ± 1.2

6.2 ± 1.1

 6 weeks postoperative

2.5 ± 1.1^*

2.4 ± 1.2^*

 16 weeks postoperative

0.7 ± 0.4^**

0.7 ± 0.5^**

CRP (mg/L)

 Preoperative

19.2 ± 5.1

18.7 ± 5.2

 6 weeks postoperative^***

9.0 ± 1.9^*

7.1 ± 1.9^*

 16 weeks postoperative

3.1 ± 0.5^**

2.7 ± 0.5^**

ESR (mm/h)

 Preoperative

39.6 ± 9.9

39.1 ± 9.8

 6 weeks postoperative^***

24.6 ± 1.5^*

16.3 ± 1.1^*

 16 weeks postoperative

10.1 ± 1.0^**

9.3 ± 1.1^**