[Surgical treatment of compressive lumbar radiculopathy]

In the period 1982-1991, 1511 patients with compressive degenerative lumbar radiculopathy underwent surgery at the Clinic of Neurosurgery in Novi Sad. 1053 patients (69.69%) were operated due to radiculopathy of herniated disc etiology, 83 patients (5.50%) because od spondylotic radiculopathy and 38 patients (2.51%) because of spinal stenosis. 327 patients (21.64%) underwent surgery due to associated lesions, while 10 (0.66%) were operated because of other lesions. In patients with isolated disc herniations either interhemilaminectomy or extirpation of the degenerated pulp nuclei was performed, while in patients with spondylotic and stenotic radiculopathies most often decompressive laminectomy with facectomy and foraminatomy were performed. In cases of combined lesions combined surgical procedures were performed. There was no perioperative mortality. In 5 operated patients (0.33%) nonsurgical complications occurred, such as thrombophlebitis. Reoperation was performed in 94 patients (6.22%). Wound infection occurred in 4 patients (0.26%) and liquor fistula in 3 patients (0.20%). The paper presents diagnostic procedures, indications for surgical treatment and strategies.