[Results of the medical treatment of sciatica of disk origin in a hospital melieu].
In an attempt to find out the becoming of patients with sciatica who have been medically treated, 112 previously hospitalized patients have been questioned and examined by the same physician, two to eight years later. The criteria used were the presence of pain and the level of social and professional activity. The good and excellent results (58%) were slightly better than the poor results and failures (42%). However, painful sequelae were very frequent (83.5%) in the form of lumbago, sciatica or a combination of both, and obliged one subject out of three--manual workers or laborers--to change their occupation. Neither age nor sex, ethnic origin nor occupation, nor the circumstances surrounding the onset (whether or not an accident at work) influenced the course. On the other hand, a long standing history of sciatica decreases the chances of a cure and the older the history, the worse the long-term prognosis. Thus, it seems reasonable not to prolong medical treatment over two months and to advise surgery after a well conducted course of treatment in the recurring cases of sciatica, and in those that do not respond to the usual therapeutic measures. To persist in following a medical treatment threatens to leave definite sequella from prolonged radicular compression.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
Résultat du traitement médical en mileu hospitalier des sciatiques d'origine discale.