title: "Standard" microsurgical lumbar discectomy vs. "conservative" microsurgical discectomy. A preliminary study.
abstract: The "conservative" microsurgical lumbar discectomy described by Williams for the treatment of herniated lumbar disc is compared in a retrospective study with the standard microsurgical technique of Caspar and Loew. In order to enable such a retrospective comparison, a special randomization had to be chosen. The data concerning outcome are based on a questionnaire, in which the patient can describe his actual health situation. The result in the group of 56 patients operated on by the Williams technique with a mean follow-up of 27 months is excellent or good in 89% vs. 74% in the standard technique group. Reoperations due to a recurrence were identical in both groups (3.6% and 3.9%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Striffeler
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gröger
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Reulen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome