title: [Patients' condition one year following surgery for a lumbosacral radicular syndrome].
abstract: In 492 patients with a lumbosacral radicular syndrome caused by a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation or by a stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, the situation 1 year after a root decompressing operation was compared with the situation before surgery. About 75% of the patients reported satisfactory improvement, while about 10% were not satisfied. The judgement of the physicians is somewhat more favourable: 80% and 5%, respectively. The best results are obtained in patients in whom the preoperative diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation is highly probable; the worst results are obtained in patients undergoing a second operation. Back pain, sometimes serious, persists after surgery in about 50% of the patients. Such persistent back pain occurs most frequently in patients with a lumbar canal stenosis; one-third even mention a postoperative increase in back pain. About 50% of the patients who were on sick leave before operation resumed work afterwards.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Habbema
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braakman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blaauw
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Slebus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013577:Syndrome
vernacular_title: De toestand van patiënten één jaar na operatie wegens een lumbosacraal radiculair syndroom.