title: [70 patients operated on for sciatica without herniated disk].
abstract: Seventy patients suffering from sciatica were operated in whom no disc herniation was found. In 42 instances, compression of bony origin was found. These cases were either due to general narrowing of the spinal canal with signs in the distribution of several roots with neurological intermittent claudication, or to narrowing of the lateral recess or intervertebral foramen with involvement of only one root. Decompressive surgery was always beneficial for pain. In 20 instances a disc was found to be only bulging; disc excision was performed in 17 of these patients. In 8 instances, no abnormality was found. Some patients were nevertheless cured by disc excision, a single laminectomy being useful. The incidence of additional psychological problems is discussed. It is concluded that the clinical signs should guide the surgeon rather than the radiological findings in decisions for surgical treatment. Patients who have been correctly treated by conservative means for an adequate time should be systematically operated on if they have not shown sufficient clinical improvement.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications
vernacular_title: A propos de 70 sciatiques sans hernie discale opérées.