[Patients' condition one year following surgery for a lumbosacral radicular syndrome]

In 492 patients with a lumbosacral radicular syndrome caused by a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation or by a stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, the situation 1 year after a root decompressing operation was compared with the situation before surgery. About 75% of the patients reported satisfactory improvement, while about 10% were not satisfied. The judgement of the physicians is somewhat more favourable: 80% and 5%, respectively. The best results are obtained in patients in whom the preoperative diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation is highly probable; the worst results are obtained in patients undergoing a second operation. Back pain, sometimes serious, persists after surgery in about 50% of the patients. Such persistent back pain occurs most frequently in patients with a lumbar canal stenosis; one-third even mention a postoperative increase in back pain. About 50% of the patients who were on sick leave before operation resumed work afterwards.