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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
05:50
A Mobile Outside-in Technique of Transforaminal Lumbar Endoscopy for Lumbar Disc Herniations
Published on: August 7, 2018
Variability of outcome after lumbar disc surgery.
C Woertgen1, R D Rothoerl, K Breme
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Regensburg, Germany.
Spine
|May 1, 1999
Summary
Lumbar disc surgery outcomes can be unstable, with 40% of patients shifting between favorable and unfavorable groups. This inconsistency complicates the identification of reliable prognostic factors for surgical success.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedics
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Prognostic factors for lumbar disc surgery often vary across different follow-up times.
- Patient outcome groups may not remain stable throughout the observation period, potentially explaining inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the consistency of patient outcomes after lumbar disc surgery.
- To identify stable prognostic factors influencing surgical results over time.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, consecutive study design.
- Low Back Outcome Score assessed pre-surgery and at 3, 12, and 28 months post-surgery.
- Patients categorized into favorable and unfavorable outcome groups at each time point.
Main Results:
- Ninety-eight patients were analyzed.
- Forty percent of patients exhibited unstable outcomes across follow-up periods.
- No single prognostic factor demonstrated significance across all follow-up examinations.
Conclusions:
- Patient outcome instability after lumbar disc surgery poses a significant challenge.
- The variability in patient outcomes complicates the reliable calculation and application of prognostic factors.
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