Results of Operations for Lumbar Protruded Intervertebral Disc

Abstract

W HILE there is now agreement on most points in diagnosis and treatment of lumbar protruded intervertebral disc, some questions regarding the subject are still controversial. Should myelography be employed as a diagnostic aid or should the surgeon depend entirely upon symptoms and signs ? What are the results of the surgical t rea tment of protruded intervertebral disc? Is the pat ient able to return to his former employment? What is the average time-loss of a workman from his job, and when compensation cases are closed, what is the average permanent partial disability award? How much does the average case cost tile insurance carrier? What factors may influence the end results? Is a better result obtained when a protruded disc is found and removed than when there is a negative exploration or when exploration reveals an inflamed nerve root, adhesions about the nerve root, or some other pathological condition? Do private patients report better results than compensation patients? How often should spinal fusion accompany the removal of the protruded portion of the intervertebral disc? Often one has an impression, which may be erroneous, because of the impact one or two outstanding cases has made on his memory. For this reason, an evaluation of a series of consecutive cases was undertaken, and the questions enumerated consti tute the problems discussed in this paper. CASES STUDIED