[Presence and intensity of the Lasegue sign in relation to the site of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation].

The manouevre of stretching the sciatic nerve known as the Lasegue test is very useful in the clinical evaluation of patients with suspicion of lumbar disc herniation and has been in use for over 100 years. The relationship between the intensity of the Lasegue test and intraoperative localization of disc herniation is presented. The material comprised 87 cases (54 males and 33 females) aged 47 (+/- 9) years. Duration of symptoms was on average 9 months (+/- 7.5 months). The Lasegue sign was positive in 84 patients and negative in 3 patients (absent in 1 case, and more than 70 degrees in 2 cases). In the investigated group the Lasegue sign was positive at 39 degrees (+/- 22 degrees) on average. The obtained results indicate a strong relation between a positive Lasegue sign and disc herniation leading to direct spinal nerve or nerve sheath compression.