Prospective study of 100 lumbosacral discectomies

A prospective study of 100 patients undergoing discectomy was carried out. The neurological findings were documented preoperatively and at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively. The clinical and radiological data were analyzed with respect to significant associations. There were no complications. At a minimum of 1 year postoperatively, 63% of patients had complete relief of back pain and 73% had complete relief of leg pain. A discriminant analysis equation was derived which assessed the relative significance of factors as determinants of outcome. A method is given for estimating whether a patient will have a good or a poor outcome following the discectomy. Factors shown to be of significance should be recorded in prospective series to allow for comparison as to the efficacy of different methods of treatment. The results are better than those described for chemonucleolysis.