title: Serial changes of herniated intervertebral discs after posterior lumbar discectomy: the relation between magnetic resonance imaging of the postoperative intervertebral discs and clinical outcome.
abstract: To evaluate the relation between the morphologic changes of postoperative intervertebral discs and the clinical outcome after posterior lumbar discectomy, the size of the bulging disc was analyzed prospectively on serial follow-up magnetic resonance images in 26 randomly selected patients. The bulging of postoperative intervertebral discs involved three patterns of reduction: early reduction (n = 15), gradual reduction (n = 6), and late reduction (n = 5). There was a significant difference in the serial changes of subjective symptoms and neurologic function among the three patterns. A late reduction of postoperative disc bulging could cause late recovery of subjective symptoms and neurologic disturbance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Toyama Rosai Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gejo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009068:Movement; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012677:Sensation; D016896:Treatment Outcome