[The prognosis of conservatively treated lumbar intervertebral disk displacement]

72 out of 120 patients who where treated conservatively for proven lumbar disc prolapse over a seven-year-period were reexamined. Questionnaires could be obtained and evaluated for 91 patients. The date of reexamination was an average of 44.5 months after the end of inpatient-treatment. Results are given for the duration of inability to work and the "return to work" (RTW)-rate. The ability to work of 54 patients was regained after an average of 11.1 weeks, 95% of patients could return to their previous workplace.