Duration of disability following lumbar disc surgery

The total duration of disability of 116 patients operated on for lumbar disc prolapse was studied 10 years postoperatively. From the beginning of the observation period 10 years before surgery, the number of days on sick-leave increased continually and no positive effect of the surgical treatment in this respect could be observed. There was a highly significant coincidence between the end-result assessment by the patient and the total duration of the postoperative disability. The following factors were conducive to a short total period of post-operative disability: early surgery (short interval of preoperative sciatica), short total preoperative period of sick-leave and immediate relief of sciatic pain by the operation. The objective changes in the preoperative state of the patient such as neurological and X-ray findings had a less significant influence.