A new microsurgical reoperation for failed lumbar disc surgery.

This paper reports a consecutive series of 103 patients operated upon over a 4.2-year period (from November 1978 through January 1983). These patients were initially operated upon by other orthopedic and neurologic surgeons without relief of their sciatic pain. The average duration of symptoms prior to microsurgical reoperation was 35.9 months. The average number of reoperations per patient was 1.4. The median follow-up time was 27 months (range 1-50 months). Preoperative evaluation included examination, CAT scan, myelogram, and electromyogram. Average postoperative hospital stay without spinal fusion was 5.1 days. Two techniques were used: a unilateral decompression and a bilateral intersegmental decompression. Results are compared. A classification of operative findings is given. Eight patients in the series received spinal fusion as part of their procedure. Microsurgical reoperation benefited 80.6% of the 103 patients.