Biochemical measurement of muscle injury created by lumbar surgery

Abstract

Purposes: 1. To determine whether lumbar disc surgery (LS) provides a sufficiently detectable rise in serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration to serve as a model to study biochemical measurement of muscle injury, and 2. To use the model to examine the consistency of the time course of CK concentration changes. Method: The study used a repeated measures design. Six women and six men scheduled for LS were recruited. Blood samples were taken in the pre-operative waiting areas, immediately after surgery, at 6 hour intervals until discharge, and at 2, 4, and 6 to 7 days following surgery. Total serum CK was quantified using the Roche Modular to detect enzyme concentration. Results: Following LS, mean Total CK increased from a baseline 50 U/L (SD = 53) to a peak 114 U/L (SD = 32) in women (P