The effect of spinal anesthesia as a risk factor for low back pain in women after Cesarean section

Abstract

Background: We planned a study to investigate the effect of spinal anesthesia in producing low back pain (LBP) in women following Cesarean section. Methods: During a prospective cohort study, 100 women who underwent spinal anesthesia and Cesarean operation were compared with 100 women who underwent general anesthesia and Cesarean operation during a 3-months follow-up as developing later low back pain. Findings: During 3-months follow-up, 25 and 43 patients in general and spinal anesthesia groups developed low back pain, respectively, which was statistically different according to chi-square test (P = 0.007). So, the prevalence of low back pain was 1.99 times more in spinal anesthesia group. It is important to note that the infant's weight had strong effect in producing low back pain; as increasing every 1 kg in weight increased the chance of low back pain for 2.1 times. Conclusion: There incidence low back pain was higher in women who underwent Cesarean operation under spinal anesthesia; this high incidence not only depended on the type of anesthesia, but on other factors such as the infant's birth weight. Thus, when planning Cesarean operation, it is necessary to consider the underlying factors in mother and child which can be effective in producing later low back pain and then accept the type of anesthesia. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All Rights Reserved.