Long-term results of discectomy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation

Objective To investigate retrospectively the long-term results of discectomy for patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods From July 1988 to May 2003, 273 cases of 1040 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation undergone surgical treatment in our hospital were followed up. All patients were divided three groups according the time of follow-up. The follow-up time was three years as middle follow-up group (Ⅰ), five years as longer follow-up group(Ⅱ) and ten years and more as sup-longer follow-up group (Ⅲ). Sixty-eight cases(24.91%) were in group Ⅰ, including 42 males and 26 females, with the average age of 43.7 years (14-63 years). The group Ⅱ included 141 cases (51.65%), 92 males and 49 females, with the average age of 46.1 years (18-76 years). As group ⅡⅢ, 64 cases (23.44%) were included 46 males and 18 females, with the average age of 43.5 years (20-63 years). The standards Scoring System of Chinese Spinal Association (CSA) and Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) were used for investigation. Results According to CSA system, the total good and excellent rate of surgical treatment for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation was 89.0%. The percentage of the satisfactory of the group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ were 92.6%, 91.5% and 79.7% respectively. There was significant difference between group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ, Ⅲ. The score of JOA were 24.75±5.08, 22.43±6.55, 21.64±7.18 postoperatively, with significant difference between group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ, Ⅲ. Conclusion The mid-term results of surgery for patients with lumbar iutervertebral disc herniation is good, and the good and excellent rate decreases gradually with the follow-up time. The results were similar to each other for evaluation between the standard of CSA and JOA. Key words: Lumbar vertebrae;  Intervertebral disk displacement;  Follow-up studies10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2352.2009.07.005