Spinal anesthesia for lumbar disc surgery: review of 576 operations.

Neurologic complications accompanying spinal anesthesia were examined in 576 lumbar disc operations on 507 patients. The single serious complication did not seem attributable to the choice of anesthetic method. Minor neurologic complications, with the exception of spinal headache, could be explained by surgical manipulation. The authors conclude that spinal anesthesia is safe for surgical operations on the laterally herniated lumbar disc.