title: Open discectomy as treatment for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine.
abstract: Open discectomy is the "gold standard" for operative intervention in patients with herniated lumbar discs whose conservative treatment has failed. Over 60 years the indications for surgery and the expected success rates have been clearly elucidated. The specific patient selection and determination of surgical procedures continues to evolve. Recurrent herniations occur at a low rate, and serious complications are rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Errico
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Fardon
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Lowell
mesh_terms: D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*