title: [Herniation of a lumbar disk in the elderly. Results of chemonucleolysis].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome after chymopapain chemonucleolysis in elderly patients with low back pain and sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation without concomitant stenosis, unresponsive to conservative therapy. In the 42 study patients, aged 60 years or older, clinical manifestations were similar to those usually seen in younger patients. Evidence of nerve root tension, including a positive straight-leg raising test seen in 67% of our patients, proved valuable for outruling sciatica due to bony impingement. Outcome was favorable in 78% of cases after a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. This findings is consistent with previous studies performed without age restrictions. Chemonucleolysis had no adverse effects. Despite the biochemical changes which occur in the aging disc, chemonucleolysis is an effective tool for the treatment of sciatica due to disc herniation in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benoist
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nizard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lassale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deburge
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002917:Chymopapain
vernacular_title: La hernie discale lombaire du sujet âgé. Résultats da la chimionucléolyse.