[Technical considerations on lumbar disk surgery. Results of a survey of 49 centers]

The lumbar discectomy, how do you see it? That could be the title of this inquiry which 49 neurosurgeons answered. At first we discuss the timing of the operation (as a rule sooner than the conventional indication of the third month) the use of operative microscope which is still uncommon (11 surgeons out of 49) and the operative policy. The more specific technical features regarding the different stages of the operation are then analysed. Opinions of neurosurgeons differ on many points particularly on the ligament and bone removal which exposes the disco-radicular conflict: whereas one third of the neurosurgeons refuse to open the lumbar facet joint, one third always open it widely and the remaining third take a mid-way position. On the whole, this inquiry points cut both a great diversity in technical details, but also a stagnation because this operation hardy improved and only slightly benefited from the technical progress.