When is the appropriate time for surgical intervention of the herniated lumbar disc in the adolescent?
Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the adolescent is uncommon. The appropriate treatment in this particular age group is not clear. We conducted a retrospective review of the medical, surgical, and radiological records of six adolescents with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation who underwent microdiscectomy after failed conservative therapy. The mean follow-up was 13 months. All patients improved quickly and returned to their normal activity levels. We suggest that severe pain resulting from a herniated lumbar disc, even without any neurological deficit, is an indication for microdiscectomy in adolescents so that these patients return to full-time education and normal activities as soon as possible.
Fakouri
Bahram
B
Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. fakouri@arcor.de
Nnadi
Colin
C
Boszczyk
Bronek
B
Kunsky
Alexander
A
Cacciola
Francesco
F
D000293:Adolescent; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome