title: Herniated lumbar disc in patients over the age of fifty.
abstract: Fifty patients ranging in age between 50-78 years (mean, 56) underwent surgery for a herniated lumbar disc between January 1986 and July 1988. All had objective clinical and radiographic evidence of a herniated disc. All had had failure during an appropriate period of conservative treatment. Far lateral herniation occurred in 8%, and 28% had disc herniations at L2 or L3. Surgical results were 64% excellent, 28% good, 6% fair, and 2% poor. Complications including urinary tract infection, wound infection, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism were observed in 8% of patients. Lumbar disc herniation in the elderly is common. After thorough evaluation to exclude neoplasm or infection, decompression of neural structures can lead to 90% good to excellent results. Spinal stenosis must be carefully considered both preoperatively and intraoperatively. Also, a higher incidence of more cephalad lumbar herniations and far lateral herniations was observed in older patients.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors: H S
authors: HS
authors: An
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vaccaro
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Simeone
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Balderston
authors: D
authors: D
authors: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications