Surgical results of lumbar disc herniation in the elderly

We investigated the surgical results of lumbar disc herniation in the elderly. Ten elderly patients underwent surgical treatment between 1990 and 1999. There were 7 males and 3 females with a mean age of 68.2 years (range: 60~85 years). Thirteen patients in their 20s and 30s were used as a control. Preoperatively, severe leg pain and gait disturbance, and higher rates of negative straight leg-raising were shown in the elderly group. Higher levels of herniation and higher graded disc degeneration were shown compared with the young. The mean total of the Japanese Orthopedic Association score in the elderly group improved from 5.1 points to 13.1 points postoperatively, and that in the young group improved from 6.9 points to 14.5 points. The recovery rate was 82.6% in the elderly group and 94.3% in the young group. Postoperatively, the recovery of gait disturbance in the elderly group tended to be poor compared with the young group. The elderly patients would not tolerate bed rest and would often do poorly if kept recumbent and in pain for long periods of time. Satisfactory results are being sought with regard to the operative management of lumbar disc herniation in the elderly.