title: Dural lesions in lumbar disc herniation surgery: incidence, risk factors, and outcome.
abstract: In lumbar disc herniation surgery, dural lesions seem to be the most common complication today. Studies on incidence of and outcome after a dural lesion are mainly based on retrospective studies. In a prospective study within the framework of the Swedish Spine Register, 4,173 patients operated on for lumbar disc herniation were evaluated using pre- and 1-year postoperative protocols and complication registration. Mean patient age was 41 (18-81) years and 53% of the patients were male. 93% of the operations were performed on the two lowermost lumbar levels. The incidence of dural lesions in the material was 2.7%. In patients with previous disc surgery, the incidence was doubled, 5%, a significant increase (P = 0.02). Patients with dural lesions preoperatively had more back pain and inferior scores in general health and role emotional domains of the SF-36. These factors, however, were because they had been operated on previously, not related to the dural lesion as such. The relative improvement after surgery was similar whether a dural lesion had occurred or not. It is concluded that a dural lesion is a technical complication which must be solved at the time of surgery but which does not bear any negative implications on the long-term outcome for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Lund University Hospital, 22185, Lund, Sweden. bjorn.stromqvist@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Strömqvist
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strömqvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome