Clinical Results about More than 5 Years Follow-up after Open Discectomy

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed to verify clinical result and recurrence of long term follow-up after open lumbar discectomy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW There are many reports concerning the clinical result of open discectomy. However, long-term result is not frequently reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1989 to 2000, 289 patients underwent open discectomies. 142 patients who was followed more than 5 years were enrolled in this study. Follow-up rate, clinical outcome were analyzed as gender, age at the operation and operated level. Re-operation rate was analyzed as gender, age at the operation, operated level divided into same level-same side, same level-contralateral side and other level and the time at reoperation. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by Kim and Kim criteria. RESULTS: More than 5 years follow-up rate was 49.1%. Average follow-up period were 99.2 months. Clinically successful result was obtained in 75.4%, and it was not related with gender, age at the operation and operated level. Reoperations were needed in 21 patients(14.8%). Reoperation rate was not related with gender, age at the operation. Same level-same side reherniation were frequent before 6 months after first surgery, but other side and different level were similar more than 2 years after first surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical result was acceptable(75.4%). Main cause of reoperations before 6 months after first surgery was recurrence at the same level and same side, but cause of reoperation more than 2 years after first surgery were herniation at the other side and different level increased with time.