title: The functional relevance of neurological recovery after lumbar discectomy: a follow-up of more than 20 years.
abstract: We have studied 180 patients (128 men and 52 women) who had undergone lumbar discectomy at a mean of 25.4 years (20 to 32) after operation. Pre-operatively, most patients (70 patients; 38.9%) had abnormal reflexes and/or muscle weakness in the leg (96 patients; 53.3%). At follow-up 42 patients (60%) with abnormal reflexes pre-operatively had fully recovered and 72 (75%) with pre-operative muscle impairment had normal muscle strength. When we looked at patient-reported outcomes, we found that the Short form-36 summary scores were similar to the aged-matched normative values. No disability or minimum disability on the Oswestry disability index was reported by 136 patients (75.6%), and 162 (90%) were satisfied with their operation. The most important predictors of patients' self-reported positive outcome were male gender and higher educational level. No association was detected between muscle recovery and outcome. Most patients who had undergone lumbar discectomy had long-lasting neurological recovery. If the motor deficit persists after operation, patients can still expect a long-term satisfactory outcome, provided that they have relief from pain immediately after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Federico II University Hospital, Via S. Pansini 5, ed. 12, 80131 Napoli, Italy. maricond@unina.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariconda
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Galasso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Secondulfo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors