title: Lumbar disc herniation surgery in children: outcome and gender differences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in children is rare. Few studies have evaluated the outcome of surgery and none in a prospective study design.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate preoperative disability and postoperative outcome in children operated on for LDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a 10-year period, 74 children aged <18 years were included in SweSpine register for LDH with pre- and perioperative data registered, 48 with 1-year follow-up data. Demographics and outcome measurements were described according to the SweSpine protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients reported preoperatively severe impairment in terms of pain, quality of life and function, girls to a higher extent. Significant postoperative improvement was seen in all patients, leaving no patients dissatisfied with outcome. The PROMS were 1 year after surgery within normal ranges, but remained slightly lower for girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operative treatment of LDH in growing individuals leads to very good outcome with high degree of patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Departments of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedics, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden. fredrik.stromqvist@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3362-6846
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Strömqvist
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Departments of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedics, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strömqvist
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Departments of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedics, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedics, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerdhem
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Departments of Clinical Sciences and Orthopaedics, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Disc herniation; Gender; Growth; Lumbar; PROMS; Surgical outcome