[Regression of motor symptoms after intervertebral disk displacement-induced spinal nerve root lesion. Clinical...

Ever since the causal relationship between backache, radicular pain and intravertebral disc herniation was established [25], there have been different opinions about the degree of recovery of motor lesions of the nerve root caused by disc herniation. Of 123 patients with a severe motor deficit of the L5 nerve root, 95 patients were available for a follow up examination 4 to 8 years after the operation. The statistical evaluation showed that the degree of recovery of the root lesion was mainly dependent on the age of the patient and the time interval until operation. Even a prior herniation of the disc without much compression of the nerve root can cause chronic damage to the nerve through traction at the trilamellar nerve root fixation. So even in the case of only a small disc hernia with a corresponding nerve root lesion, we would recommend immediate operative therapy.