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Lumbar microdiscectomy in the elderly patient

H R Silvers¹, P J Lewis, H L Asch

¹Southtowns Neurological Surgeons Associates, Buffalo, New York, USA.

British Journal of Neurosurgery

|February 1, 1997

Summary

Microsurgical lumbar discectomy is safe and effective for older adults (>=60 years). This procedure provides significant pain relief and functional improvement in geriatric patients with herniated lumbar discs.

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Area of Science:

Neurosurgery
Geriatric Medicine
Spinal Surgery

Background:

The aging population presents a growing challenge for managing herniated lumbar discs.
Microsurgical lumbar discectomy is a common treatment for lumbar disc herniation.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of microsurgical lumbar discectomy in patients aged 60 years and older.
To compare outcomes in elderly patients with a younger, age-unselected control group.

Main Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 60 patients aged >=60 undergoing microsurgical lumbar discectomy.
Comparison with 44 age-unselected patients.
Short-term pain relief assessed via office visits (2 months).
Long-term outcomes (mean 6.5-8.8 years) assessed via mailed questionnaires, including leg/back pain, return to activities (RTA), and satisfaction.

Main Results:

Short-term pain relief was high and similar in both groups (94% elderly vs. 98% comparison).
Long-term outcomes showed comparable leg pain relief (91% vs. 86%), back pain relief (76% vs. 76%), and satisfaction (81% vs. 91%).
Return to normal activities was lower in the elderly group (68% vs. 87%), though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Microsurgical lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective treatment option for geriatric patients with herniated lumbar discs.
Outcomes in elderly patients are comparable to younger patients, with high rates of pain relief and satisfaction.
While return to normal activities may be slightly lower, the procedure offers significant benefits for older adults.

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