Ahmed Bakhsh1. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Saad Specialist Hospital, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ahmedbakhsh@gmail.com
Abstract
OBJECT: The author conducted a study to determine the long-term outcome of lumbar disc surgery on relief of sciatic leg pain. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The author reviewed medical records of 68 patients who underwent lumbar disc surgery for sciatic pain during the period 1995-2004. All patients were physically examined and interviewed. RESULTS: Lumbar disc surgery yielded complete pain relief in 79.41% of the cases. In 14.7% of the cases surgery failed to give any pain relief, and in 5.88% it yielded partial pain relief. At up to 10 years postoperatively, 27.77% of patients remained absolutely pain free. Pain recurred in 12.82% of cases after 1 year, in 35.89% during the first 5 years, and in 51.28% after 10 years. Pain recurred in the same leg in 63.88%, in the contralateral leg in 19.44%, and in both legs in 16.66%. Neurological deficits did not improve in any case except in 1 case of foot drop. New neurological deficits developed postoperatively in 8.82% of cases in the form of foot drop and calf muscle weakness. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery provided immediate pain relief in 79.41% of cases, but the long-term outcome of lumbar disc surgery was not satisfactory.
OBJECT: The author conducted a study to determine the long-term outcome of lumbar disc surgery on relief of sciatic leg pain. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The author reviewed medical records of 68 patients who underwent lumbar disc surgery for sciatic pain during the period 1995-2004. All patients were physically examined and interviewed. RESULTS: Lumbar disc surgery yielded complete pain relief in 79.41% of the cases. In 14.7% of the cases surgery failed to give any pain relief, and in 5.88% it yielded partial pain relief. At up to 10 years postoperatively, 27.77% of patients remained absolutely pain free. Pain recurred in 12.82% of cases after 1 year, in 35.89% during the first 5 years, and in 51.28% after 10 years. Pain recurred in the same leg in 63.88%, in the contralateral leg in 19.44%, and in both legs in 16.66%. Neurological deficits did not improve in any case except in 1 case of foot drop. New neurological deficits developed postoperatively in 8.82% of cases in the form of foot drop and calfmuscle weakness. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery provided immediate pain relief in 79.41% of cases, but the long-term outcome of lumbar disc surgery was not satisfactory.
Authors: Scott L Parker; Stephen K Mendenhall; Saniya S Godil; Priya Sivasubramanian; Kevin Cahill; John Ziewacz; Matthew J McGirt Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 4.176