[Diagnosis and treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniation]

To investigate diagnosis and treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations.

The clinical data from 16 patients with far-lateral lumbar disc herniations from January 1999 to January 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. The CT scanning showed that the shadow density of the CT scanning values in the corresponding intra-foramen, extra-foramen and all-foramen was as the same as that of the intervertebral disc. Of the 16 patients, 10 were operated on by the interlaminar approach, 3 were operated on by the laterolaminar approach, 3 were operated on by the combined interlaminar and laterolaminal approach.

According to the follow-up for 6 months to 5 years, excellent results were obtained in 8 patients, good results in 5, and fair results in 3. The postoperative CT examination showed that the space occupying in the foramen or extra-foramen of the corresponding segment vanished and the nerve root compression of the identical segment also vanished.

The lamellar high-resolution CT is a better way to diagnose lumbar disc herniation. The operative approach should be chosen according to the position of the intervertebral disc protrusion, pathologic type, and presence or absence of the lesions in the vertebral canal.