Primary and Revision Lumbar Discectomy: A Four-Year Review from Our Private Practice

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation treatment prioritizes nerve root decompression and spinal stabilization.
• Various discectomy techniques exist, with primary surgeries generally yielding positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of lumbar discectomy surgeries.
• To analyze factors associated with recurrent disc herniation requiring revision surgery.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 105 lumbar discectomies performed between January 2012 and December 2015 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• 95 patients (90 primary, 5 revision) were included, with follow-up ranging from 1-4 years and outcomes assessed at one year post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Primary discectomy showed good results. Of the 5 revision surgeries, 3 were from the primary group of this study.
• Recurrences in 3 patients were associated with complete initial symptom resolution, precipitating events, and lack of physical activity.
• The average time interval between primary and revision surgery was 2.6 years.

Conclusions:

• Lumbar discectomy is effective for symptomatic disc herniation.
• Factors like precipitating events and reduced physical activity may contribute to recurrence after initial successful surgery.