[Long-term outcomes of lumbar microdiscectomy in a working class sample]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common condition, with microdiscectomy being a standard surgical treatment.
• Worker populations present unique challenges and outcomes following LDH surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical outcomes of lumbar microdiscectomy in a series of worker patients.
• To evaluate long-term results and work reintegration after surgical intervention for LDH.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 142 patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy between 2004-2005.
• Clinical outcomes assessed using the Herron and Turner outline, including pain reduction, treatment use, physical activity, and return to work.
• A 5-year follow-up was conducted to evaluate the consistency of clinical results.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients were male (116) with an average age of 37.9 years; L5-S1 level was most frequently operated on (68.3%).
• Occupational activities were implicated in 75.3% of cases, with 44.3% having additional injured discs.
• Work reintegration was achieved in 83.3% of cases, with consistent clinical results observed at the 5-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Microdiscectomy is a highly effective treatment for lumbar disc herniation, particularly for recurrent cases.
• Occupational LDH often affects young men, involving annulus or ligament breakage, frequently with multiple disc involvement.
• The study highlights the long-term efficacy and successful work reintegration following microdiscectomy for LDH in the working population.