[Lumbar nerve root compression--results of the quality assurance study 1993-1998]

Summary. This multicenter quality assurance study investigated 14 334 cases with lumbar nerv root compression between 1993 and 1998. Patient data, diagnostics, therapy and course as well as neurological status pre- and posttreatment have been investigated for each year. There was an obvious growing number of patients between 60 and 79 years of age, who have been operated. The rate raised from 20% to 28%. Age, comorbiditiy and complication rate as well as length of stay showed a positive correlation. Outpatient CTscan lost diagnostic importance (82% --> 65%) compared to MRI (16% --> 41%). Myelography regained interest in only conservatively treated patients due to difficult indication assessment (40% --> 64%). The rate of intraoperative antibiotics rose from 42% to 59% without change of infection rate. Intra- and postoperative complication rates came down from 5.6% to 2.1% and 6.9% to 1.8% respectively. Pre- and postoperative neurological findings remained unchanged.