Long-term results of discectomy for lumbar disc herniation / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

0.05). However, there was significant difference between the "open-window" or hemilaminectomy group and total laminectomy group. The time of returning to work and the rate of returning to previous work were 4.3 months and 84.6% in "open-window" group, 4.6 months and 86.4% in hemilaminectomy group and 4.4 months and 77.8% in total laminectomy group respectively. The height loss of involved disc spaces was discovered in the postoperative radiographs in all the patients. However, no segmental instability was found in the majority of these patients. Conclusion 1) "Open-window" or hemilaminectomy may achieve satisfactory long-term results for treatment of lumbar disc herniation. 2) No definite correlation exists between the height loss of involved disc space and segmental instability or nerve root entrapment. 3) Discectomy is still a reliable and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation before the reliability of any disc replacement is confirmed in the long-term follow-up survey.