[Long-term outcomes of the revision open lumbar discectomy by fenestration: a follow-up study of more than 10 years].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term clinical results and the factors that influences the outcomes of the revision open lumbar discectomy by fenestration.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients, who underwent the second open discectomy by fenestration from January 1 1988 to December 31 1994, were followed for an average of 146.8 months (range, 120 to 203 months). The long-term follow-up results were evaluated by using the MacNab classification and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system through direct examinations and questionnaires. Radiography was also used in patients who agreed to visit the hospital, and findings were compared with those on preoperative radiographs.


RESULTS
At the final follow-up, with the MacNab classification an excellent and good outcome was achieved in 70.6% of the cases, 78.4% were satisfied with their results. The failure rate was 15.7% (8 patients). Excluding those 8 failed cases who needed another reoperation, the average improvement calculated by JOA scores was (64.6 +/- 18.2)%. The disc height of the operation site significantly decreased after surgery, nevertheless, this did not affect the long-term clinical outcome. Factors that were associated with a fair and bad outcome included smoking, isolated trauma or injury, fibrosis and the length of the remaining or recurrent primary postoperative symptoms history. Psychosociological signs were probably known as negative predictors of lumbar disc surgery outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term outcome of the revision open lumbar discectomy by fenestration in this series was favorable. Because the revision operation is typically associated with a higher complexity, selection of suitable surgical candidates and determination of valid indications for operative treatment are very important. JOA scores have proved to be easy to perform for patients and clinicians and standardize subjective data.
Guo
Jiong-jiong
JJ
Department of Orthopaedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China. gjj_sz@sohu.com
Tang
Tian-si
TS
Yang
Hui-lin
HL
Xu
Yao-zeng
YZ
Jiang
Wei-min
WM
Huang
Li-xin
LX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome