[Analysis of the lumbar discectomy complications]. / Análisis de las complicaciones de la cirugía de la hernia discal lumbar.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications in a series of patients operated on for lumbar disc herniations between 1997 and 2002. METHODS: The records of 64 patients with the diagnosis of lumbar radicular compression by disc herniation who underwent 73 surgical procedures were analyzed. The patients with radicular pain without disc herniation were excluded. RESULTS: Complications occurring in 7 cases (9.6 %) were 2 deep infections, 1 dural tear which was repaired, 2 cerebrospinal fluid fistulae, 1 pseudomeningocele and 1 lesion of L5 root. CONCLUSIONS: - The most frequent complications were dural tear and infection. These observations are similar to those reported in previously published papers.

[Antibody titers against the hepatitis A virus in a healthy population from an urban health area]. / Estudio de los títulos de anticuerpos frente al virus de la hepatitis A en una población sana de una zona de salud urbana.

AIMS: To assess the level of immunity in a healthy population to the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to age groups and in an urban health area. DESIGN: Transversal random prospective study of a sample of the population found by letters. SITE. Primary Care Centre covering the population of an urban health area in Valladolid. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 726 people with an adjustment as to sex and age according to the area's average, in line with the full census of the above area. The sample was 95% trustworthy, with a 3% margin of error. People with serious illness at the time of the study were excluded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN FINDINGS: We carried out a social-health count. We established the anti-HAV titer after its detection by enzyme immunoanalysis (HAVAB EIA Abbott); the titers were inferred from the absorbances relating then to that of a a "pool" of serums with very high titers. 69.9% (standardised rate) gave positive. The highest titers were presented in people between 31 and 50 (29.7 +/- 47.0), with significant differences both for lower (17.0 +/- 15.7) and higher (15.7 +/- 19.8) age groups (p. 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: The highest anti-HAV titers corresponded to people in the middle age-group, with a subsequent dropping-off. This could suggest a greater susceptibility to HAV infection in the older person.