The Comparisons of Surgical Outcomes and Clinical Characteristics between the Far Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniations and the Paramedian Lumbar Disc Herniations.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of the far lateral and the paramedian disc herniations.


METHODS
The 88 patients who underwent an operation for lumbar disc herniations were reviewed. Visual analogue scale of leg and back pain, occurrence of sensory dysesthesia and motor deficit before and after operations were used to compare the far lateral with the paramedian disc herniations.


RESULTS
Statistically, the far lateral herniations had more severe radicular leg pain and showed more frequent occurrence of sensory dysesthesia than paramedian herniations before operation (p<0.05). In the far lateral herniation group, preoperatively, 15 patients (75%) had sensory dysesthesia and among them, 4 patients (27%) showed improvement. In the paramedian herniation group, preoperatively, 25 patients (37%) had sensory dysesthesia and among them, 21 patients (84%) showed improvement. The degree of improvement in sensory dysesthesia was statistically higher in paramedian herniation group (p<0.05). In the far lateral herniation group, preoperatively, 11 patients (55%) had motor deficit and among them, 10 patients (91%) showed improvement. In the paramedian herniations, preoperatively, 29 patients (43%) had motor deficit and among them, 25 patients (86%) showed improvement. The degree of improvement in motor deficit was not statistically significant between groups (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperatively, the far lateral herniations had more severe radicular leg pain and frequent occurrence of sensory dysesthesia. Postoperatively, the sensory dysesthesia was less improved and back pain was more severe in the far lateral herniations.
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Hyun Wook
HW
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Ki Seok
KS
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Moon Sun
MS
Park
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Seong Min
SM
Kim
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Seung Young
SY
Chung
Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Taejon, Korea.
Do Sung
DS
Lee
Clinical characteristics; Far lateral disc herniation; Paramedian disc herniation; Surgical outcomes