title: Prevention of complications in surgical management of back pain and sciatica.
abstract: Accurate diagnosis of lumbar disc disease requires a thorough examination. Appropriate neurodiagnostic studies are required to confirm the suspected diagnosis. Other diagnoses should be considered prior to surgery, especially when there is a lack of correlation between the history, physical examination, or radiologic investigation. Proper surgical techniques should also help in preventing complications and are further discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Abitbol
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Garfin
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control