[Effect of surgery on neurological involvement caused by a lumbosacral radicular syndrome]

Results of neurological assessment one year after surgical treatment of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc and lumbar stenosis are reported in 443 patients. Follow-up was performed during one year after operation. Preoperatively, surgeons found motor loss more frequently than patients, (28 and 12% respectively) and, postoperatively, motor loss was still present in 25% and 24%, respectively, of these cases. The operation had caused motor loss in 5% and aggravated motor loss in 3%. Sensibility was reported as abnormal one year after surgery by both patients and surgeons in one-third of the cases. Sensory loss, considered by the patient to have been caused or aggravated by the operation, occurred in 15% of the cases and in 12% of these the surgeons agreed. Preoperatively, unilaterally diminished knee and Achilles tendon reflexes were found in 9% and 42% respectively; one year after surgery, these had recovered in 65% and 57%, respectively. Surgery caused or aggravated unilaterally diminished knee or ankle jerks in 3% and 10%, respectively.