Predictive value of the duration of sciatica for lumbar discectomy

The optimal time for lumbar discectomy due to sciatica is still under discussion. We examined a group of 177 consecutive patients with lumbar disc herniation, who underwent lumbar discectomy. According to the duration of the sciatica, patients were divided into 3 groups: 31 (17.5%) patient with a duration of sciatica from 0 to 3 months, 82 (46.3%) patients with a duration from 4 to 10 months, and 64 (36.2%) with a duration longer than 10 months. The assessment of postoperative health status was done with the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI scoring) one year after the surgery. Statistical data have shown that there was no significant difference between the patients operated on in the period from 0-3 and 4-10 months (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the patients operated on in the period from 0-3 months and > 10 months (p > 0.001). There was also a significant difference between the patients operated on in the period from 4-10 months and those operated > 10 months (p < 0.001). This goes in favour of achieving the best results in patients with a duration of sciatica from 0 to 3 months. The worst results were obtained in those with a duration of sciatica > 10 months.