Treatment Of Disc Herniation Research Articles

Initial evaluation of pain relief efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective nerve root injection with corticosteroid in the treatment of cervical disc herniation

Objective: To evaluate the pain relief efficacy of selective nerve root injection with corticosteroid under ultrasound’s guidance in the treatment of the cervical disc herniation and its complications. Subject and method: The study was conducted with 20 cervical disc herniation patients in the Center of Multidisciplinary Consultation and Treatment, 108 Military Central Hospital from February 2021 to May 2021. All included patients were examined and performed the first injection, then observed for 2 hours after the procedure. The second injection would be indicated if the first one was not able to relieve 50% of pain at each time points of study. The time points of study were T0, T1, T2, T3 according to before, at a time, and after intervention 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The researched outcomes were vital signs, general status, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, for pain assessment), and complications. Result: The average age of subjects was 54.75 ± 12.07 years old. Gender ratio (male/female) was 1.22. The most common herniated level was C5-C6 (90%), mainly right orientation (67%). The most frequent compressed nerve root was C6 right (67%). The NRS score at the time points after intervention significantly reduced, and this favorable outcome steadily maintained (p<0.05). The most popular complication was the parasympathetic reflex (10%), it gradually disappeared with conservative care. There was no severe complication. Conclusion: The selective nerve root injection with corticosteroid under ultrasound’s guidance in the treatment of cervical disc herniation is the acceptably safe and effective management.

Progressive muscle weakness due to lumbar disc herniation in pregnancy: A case report

Purpose: Low back pain with radiculopathy caused by lumbar disc herniation is a rare presentation in pregnancy. Appropriate management is based on helping the gravida, while protecting her unborn offspring.
 Case report: A case of a 35–year–old pregnant woman in the 15th week of pregnancy with disabling pain and progressive motor weakness due to L4–L5 disc herniation is presented. Surgical decompression was performed with an aim to alleviate disabling pain and improve muscle strength.
 Conclusions: Treatment of disc herniation in pregnancy is conservative in the majority of cases. In the rare likelihood of permanent neurologic sequelae, surgical decompression is indicated, taking into account the specific physiologic condition of pregnancy.

Novel Transdural Epiarachnoid Approach for Large Central Disk Herniation in Upper Lumbar Spine.

The treatment for large central disk herniation (LCDH) at upper lumbar spine is often challenging. Previous reports showed various surgical strategies, such as microdiscectomy with posterior fixation, endoscopic surgery, and microdiscectomy through transdural approach. However, there is no consensus regarding which surgical option is better for LCDH at upper lumbar spine. In this report, we describe the novel transdural epiarachnoid approach (TDEA), which uses the corridor of epiarachnoid space for microdiscectomy. Compared with classical transdural approaches, this novel approach may reduce risks of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage and the development of arachnoiditis. A 69-yr-old man presented with progressive bilateral radiating leg pain, intermittent claudication, and low back pain. Magnetic resonance images and computed tomography scans revealed LCDH at L2/3 level. We performed microdiscectomy using the TDEA. Postoperative course was uneventful, and his symptoms were relieved after surgery. The novel TDEA for LCDH at upper lumbar spine is illustrated with a video. This novel approach has an advantage of the preservation of subarachnoid components compared with classical transdural approaches.

Posterior-only approach for the treatment of symptomatic central thoracic disc herniation regardless of calcification: A consecutive case series of 30 cases over five years

PurposeTo report the safety and efficacy of posterolateral approach for thoracic disc herniation (TDH) via a consecutive clinical case series of 30 central thoracic disc herniations that were all operated through a posterolateral approach. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of all patients with symptomatic TDH who underwent surgical intervention from 2016 to 2021. A total of 23 patients comprising 30 central TDH were included in the study. Age, gender, location of the lesion, preoperative and post-operative Frankel and Nurick scores, surgical approach and instrumented vertebrae, and length of stay were recorded. Findings23 patients with an average age of 62 were included in the study. 30 of the 32 symptomatic TDH were centrally located. 8/32 TDH were calcified while 24/32 TDH were non-calcified. Unilateral and bilateral transpedicular approach was used in the treatment of 12/32 and 10/32 disc herniations respectively. A transfacet-pedicle sparing approach was used in 10/32 disc herniations. 19/23 (82.6%) of the patients had improvement in Nurick score while 12/23 (52.2%) patients had improvement in their Frankel scores. The average length of stay was 4.5 days. No major complications were encountered. All patients underwent a short-segment instrumented construct with no need for revision surgery for thoracic disc herniation, worsening myelopathy, or instrumentation failure. Conclusions83% of the patients who underwent a transfacet or transpedicular decompression for the treatment of symptomatic TDH had improvement in their myelopathy with no neurological deterioration in any of the patients. Given the familiarity and low morbidity associated with a transfacet or transpedicular approach, posterolateral-based approaches remains an excellent alternative for surgical management of majority of the patients with thoracic disc herniations

Clinical Improvement of Cervical Disc Herniation 24 hours after a Single Oxygen-Ozone Injection

Oxygen-ozone therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for disc herniation, compared to surgery, which uses the beneficial biochemical properties of a gas mixture of ozone and oxygen. A satisfactory efficacy is usually obtained within one month after the injection. We assessed the therapeutic outcome of a single injection of oxygen-ozone in a symptomatic patient with C5-C6 cervical discal herniation with compression of the nerve roots. He experienced immediate pain relief seconds after the injection, and neuro-imaging improvement 24 hours afterwards. To our knowledge this is the fastest improvement ever reported in literature.

Sleep apnea and unilateral upper and lower extremity allodynia as a result of a large thoracic disc herniation: a case report

BackgroundClinically significant disc herniations in the thoracic spine are rare accounting for approximately 1% of all disc herniations. In patients with significant spinal cord compression, presenting symptoms typically include ambulatory dysfunction, lower extremity weakness, lower extremity sensory changes, as well as bowl, bladder, or sexual dysfunction. Thoracic disc herniations can also present with thoracic radiculopathy including midback pain and radiating pain wrapping around the chest or abdomen. The association between thoracic disc herniation with cord compression and sleep apnea is not well described.Case presentationThe following is a case of a young male patient with high grade spinal cord compression at T7-8, as a result of a large thoracic disc herniation. The patient presented with complaints of upper and lower extremity unilateral allodynia and sleep apnea. Diagnosis was only made once the patient manifested more common symptoms of thoracic stenosis including left lower extremity weakness and sexual dysfunction. Following decompression and fusion the patient’s allodynia and sleep apnea quickly resolved.ConclusionsThoracic disc herniations can present atypically with sleep apnea. We recommend taking into consideration that sleep symptoms may resolve when planning treatment for thoracic disc herniation.

Subclinical Hypoventilation in Dogs Undergoing Ventral Slot Decompressive Surgery for Cervical Myelopathy Due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation.

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to document the occurrence of post-operative hypoventilation in dogs undergoing decompressive ventral slot or hemilaminectomy for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Twenty dogs undergoing ventral slot surgery and 20 dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy surgery for the treatment of IVDH that presented to XX between 2017 and 2020 were enrolled. Dogs were anesthetized using a standard protocol. Blood gas samples were taken at up to 11 time points beginning during anesthetic recovery and continuing for a maximum of 72 h post-operatively. Dogs with cervical lesions that were non-ambulatory before surgery had more evidence of subclinical hypoventilation in the immediate peri-extubation period than dogs with less severe injuries or those undergoing hemilaminectomy surgery. We found no difference in the ventilation status in dogs undergoing cervical or thoracolumbar decompressive surgery for IVDH from 8 to 72 h post-operatively. Other markers of acid-base status indicated that subclinical hypoventilation within the peri-extubation period was transient and self-limiting. There was a moderate positive correlation between sedation scores and estimated PaCO2. These data suggest that dogs with severe cervical spinal cord injuries may be at risk for subclinical hypoventilation in the immediate peri-extubation period. Increased sedation may be correlated with decreased ventilatory status in dogs recovering from decompressive vertebral column surgery.

Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Ventral Decompression for Symptomatic Thoracic Disc Herniation with or without Calcification: Technical Notes and Case Series.

Background Symptomatic thoracic disc herniation is a challenge in spinal surgery, especially for cases with calcification. Traditional open operation has a high complication rate. The authors introduced a modified full-endoscopic transforaminal ventral decompression technique in this study and evaluated its imaging and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods Eleven patients with symptomatic thoracic disc herniation who underwent full-endoscopic transforaminal ventral decompression in a single medical center were enrolled. The surgical technique was performed as described in detail. Dilator sliding punching, endoscope-monitored foraminoplasty, and base cutting through the “safe triangle zone” are the key points of the technique. Clinical outcomes were assessed by the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score for neurological improvement and the visual analogy score (VAS) for thoracic and leg pain. The operation time, hospital stay, and complications were also analyzed. Results Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed good decompression of the spinal cord. The mJOA improved from 7.4 (range: 5–10) to 10.2 (range: 9–11). Axial thoracic pain improved in 8 of 9 patients. Leg pain and thoracic radicular pain improved in all patients. No complications were observed. The average operation time was 136 minutes (range: 70–180 minutes). The average length of hospital stay was 5.3 days (range: 2–8 days). Conclusion Minimally invasive full-endoscopic transforaminal ventral decompression for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic disc herniation with or without calcification is feasible and may be another option for this challenging spine disease.

CORR Insights®: Microdiscectomy Is More Cost-effective Than a 6-Month Nonsurgical Care Regimen for Chronic Radiculopathy.

CORR Insights®: Microdiscectomy Is More Cost-effective Than a 6-Month Nonsurgical Care Regimen for Chronic Radiculopathy.

Ten-Step Minimally Invasive Treatment of Lumbar Giant Disc Herniation via Unilateral Tubular Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Giant disc herniation (GDH) is generally defined as a lumbar disc herniation that obstructs 50% or more of the space in the spinal canal.1-3 Common treatment options for GDH include unilateral interlaminar approach, bilateral approach, or open full laminectomy.4,5 Surgical treatment of GDH may be challenging because severe bilateral compression of neural elements in the spinal canal increases the risk of iatrogenic injury to nerve roots and dura. The surgical approach can be further complicated by calcification, hardening, and dehydration of the GDH tissue. The prevailing opinion in the literature is that giant disc herniations cannot safely be treated via tubular minimally invasive approaches.5-7 In this video, we present a case of a 52-yr-old male patient with a history of progressive low back pain that radiates bilaterally from the buttocks toward the posterior legs and knees for 2 yr because of a GDH at the L4-5 level. The patient was treated via a tubular "over-the-top" minimally invasive decompression in order to first provide generous bilateral decompression of neural elements and dura.8,9 After sufficient decompression at the surgical level, the discectomy was performed via an ipsilateral piecemeal resection of the GDH. The "over-the-top" contralateral mobilization of disc herniation was also achieved with this approach, which facilitated the removal of the entire disc fragment. Patient consent was obtained prior to performing the procedure. Therefore, GDH should not be considered as a contraindication for tubular decompression when this modified technique is performed.

Evaluation of Lumbar Fusion in Recurrent Disc Prolapse

Abstract Background Recurrent disc herniation is the most common cause of reoperation after the primary disc surgery, The management of recurrent disc herniation remains somewhat controversial. Surgical treatment for recurrent disk herniation can be broadly categorized as revision discectomy alone or revision discectomy and fusion or percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy. Aim of the work to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effect between different modalities of treatment of the recurrent lumbar disc protrusion (RLDP) through 3 groups: (1) First group treated by conventional discectomy. (2) Second group treated by discectomy and lumbar fusion either by PLF, PLIF or TLIF. (3) Third group treated by percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy. Patients and methods It is a prospective cohort study performed between January 2012 and April 2017 on 150 patients complained of recurrent lumbar disc herniation. They were surgically treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University Hospitals. All patients are evaluated clinically by VAS, JOA and Oswestry disability index (ODI) through follow up period of 2 years (one month, 6 months, 1 yr, 2 yrs). They were divided into 3 groups (I&II and III) each group was a fifty patients Results the mean overall recovery rate is 89%, comparison between the three groups showed significant improvement of the endoscopic group and fixation group than simple discectomy group in term of VAS LBP, leg pain , JOA and ODI. Intraoperative blood loss, length of operation and hospital stay were significant less in endoscopic group than fixation and simple discectomy group CONCLUSION Recurrent lumbar disc prolapse management is a controversial issue, there are different surgical modalities (either by open discectomy, discectomy and fixation or Percutaneous interlaminar lumbar discectomy PEILD) although those surgical modalities are successful the PEILD is the optional choice that offers less tissue trauma, rapid recovery, less cost effect and early return to work

Network Pharmacological Dissection of the Mechanisms of Eucommiae Cortex-Achyranthis Radix Combination for Intervertebral Disc Herniation Treatment

Eucommiae cortex (EC) and Achyranthis radix (AR) are herbal medicines widely used in combination for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation (IDH). The mechanisms of action of the herbal combination have not been understood from integrative and comprehensive points of view. By adopting network pharmacological methodology, we aimed to investigate the pharmacological properties of the EC-AR combination as a therapeutic agent for IDH at a systematic molecular level. Using the pharmacokinetic information for the chemical ingredients of the EC-AR combination obtained from the comprehensive herbal drug-associated databases, we determined its 31 bioactive ingredients and 68 IDH-related therapeutic targets. By analyzing their enrichment for biological functions, we observed that the targets of the EC-AR combination were associated with the regulation of angiogenesis; cytokine and chemokine activity; oxidative and inflammatory stress responses; extracellular matrix organization; immune response; and cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, differentiation, migration, and activation. Pathway enrichment investigation revealed that the EC-AR combination may target IDH-pathology-associated signaling pathways, such as those of cellular senescence and chemokine, neurotrophin, TNF, MAPK, toll-like receptor, and VEGF signaling, to exhibit its therapeutic effects. Collectively, these data provide mechanistic insights into the pharmacological activity of herbal medicines for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases such as IDH.

Analysis of outpatient expenditure trends using Korean Health Panel Survey data of patients diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to analyze cost trends for the outpatient treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LDH).MethodsWe used cross-sectional data obtained from the Korea Health Panel Survey from 2011 to 2015. We compared outpatient medical expenses for conservative treatment of LDH using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) or Western medicine (WM).ResultsThis analysis revealed that the total medical expenses for outpatient treatment of LDH using WM treatment methods increased by 30% from 2011 to 2015, and self-payment expenses increased by 50%. The total medical expenses for outpatient treatment of LDH using TKM methods increased by 8%, and self-payment expenses decreased by 33%. The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) expenditure for WM increased by 7%, and non-covered costs increased by 83%. The NHIS expenditure for TKM increased by 41%, and non-covered costs decreased by 66%.ConclusionsThe total medical expenses for WM treatments are increasing in Korea, especially for non-covered treatments. The non-covered costs for TKM treatments are decreasing, suggesting a change in medical cost trends according to whether Korea’s actual medical expense insurance scheme is applied.

Причини повторних оперативних утручань у пацієнтів, які перенесли хірургічне лікування гриж міжхребцевих дисків поперекового відділу хребта

Актуальність. У статті подано ретроспективний аналіз причин, що призводять до негативних результатів хірургічного лікування людей літнього віку з грижами міжхребцевих дисків на рівні поперекового відділу хребта. Мета. Визначення причин негативних результатів хірургічного лікування гриж міжхребцевих дисків у людей літнього і старечого віку порівняно з молодими пацієнтами, що дозволить у подальшому вибрати правильну хірургічну тактику та запобігти виникненню ускладнень. Матеріали та методи. Проведено ретроспективний аналіз хірургічного лікування гриж міжхребцевих дисків поперекового відділу хребта у 170 пацієнтів. Група молодих людей становила 92 пацієнти, група осіб літнього і старечого віку (60 років і старше) — 78 пацієнтів. Першу операцію з приводу грижі міжхребцевого диска було проведено у термін від 3 місяців до 7 років до дослідження в різних лікувальних закладах України. Результати. Рецидив грижі диска на тому самому рівні виявлено у 61 % молодих пацієнтів і майже в 4 рази рідше (14,1 %) у старших. Грижа диска на суміжному рівні виявлена також частіше у молодих пацієнтів (10,0 %), ніж у старшої вікової категорії (3,8 %). Цей факт автори пов’язують з тим, що з віком міжхребцевий диск більш дегідратований, а висота міжтілового проміжку значно зменшується, тоді як у молодих людей об’єм матеріалу диска значний, що збільшує ризик утворення нових секвестрів. Висновки. Результати проведеної роботи вказують на те, що причини повторних оперативних хірургічних втручань з приводу гриж міжхребцевих дисків залежать від віку пацієнта; найчастішою причиною повторних оперативних втручань у старших пацієнтів є нестабільність на оперованому та суміжному рівнях, що спонукає хірургів до більш широкого застосування стабілізуючих оперативних втручань та більш детального передопераційного планування щодо вибору рівня стабілізації; у старшої вікової категорії переважають процеси стенозування, отже, у них необхідно застосовувати більш широку декомпресію.

Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Anterior Transcorporeal Cervical Discectomy for the Treatment of Cervical Disc Herniation: Surgical Design and Results

Studies that focus on percutaneous full-endoscopic anterior transcorporeal cervical discectomy (PEATCD) have rarely been reported. Therefore, the available data on the surgical design of PEATCD and related clinical outcomes are very limited. To design a surgical plan for PEATCD and to evaluate its clinical efficacy in clinical application. A retrospective cohort study. A center for spine surgery, rehabilitation department and pain medicine. Based on the size and precise location of the disc protrusions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the diameter and direction of the bone channel were designed to make a surgical plan for PEATCD. A total of 26 patients with central/paracentral cervical disc herniation (CDH) who underwent PEATCD through the designed surgical plan from October 2015 to September 2016 were enrolled in the retrospective study. Clinical outcome evaluations included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, and the modified Macnab criteria. Radiologic follow-up included cervical computerized tomography (CT) and MRI evaluations. The diameter of the designed bone channel was about 7.5 mm, and the direction was from the upper edge of the lower endplate obliquely toward the disc protrusion. Through the designed surgical plan, 26 cases of discectomy were successfully completed. The average operation time was 91.50 ± 16.80 min, and the average hospital stay was 4.07 ± 0.84 days. All patients were followed for an average of 19.61 ± 4.04 months. The postoperative VAS and JOA scores were significantly improved compared with the preoperative scores (P < 0.0001). Clinical efficacy at the final follow-up was evaluated by the modified Macnab criteria, and the excellent and good rate was 92.31%. Postoperative MRI showed that the disc protrusion was completely removed, and CT showed no collapse of the vertebral body. This study has several limitations, including the lack of a control group, the small sample size, and the unavoidable nature of the single-center study design. Based on the size and location of the disc protrusion on MRI, the diameter and direction of the bone channel are designed, which is conducive to have enough space under the full-endoscopic field of view to completely expose and remove the disc protrusion, to avoid residuals, and to ensure that PEATCD achieves good therapeutic results. The study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900027820).

Ozone as Modulator of Resorption and Inflammatory Response in Extruded Nucleus Pulposus Herniation. Revising Concepts.

Ozone therapy has been used to treat disc herniation for more than four decades. There are several papers describing results and mechanism of action. However, it is very important to define the characteristics of extruded disc herniation. Although ozone therapy showed excellent results in the majority of spinal diseases, it is not yet fully accepted within the medical community. Perhaps it is partly due to the fact that, sometimes, indications are not appropriately made. The objective of our work is to explain the mechanisms of action of ozone therapy on the extruded disc herniation. Indeed, these mechanisms are quite different from those exerted by ozone on the protruded disc herniation and on the degenerative disc disease because the inflammatory response is very different between the various cases. Extruded disc herniation occurs when the nucleus squeezes through a weakness or tear in the annulus. Host immune system considers the nucleus material to be a foreign invader, which triggers an immune response and inflammation. We think ozone therapy modulates this immune response, activating macrophages, which produce phagocytosis of extruded nucleus pulposus. Ozone would also facilitate the passage from the M1 to M2 phase of macrophages, going from an inflammatory phase to a reparative phase. Further studies are needed to verify the switch of macrophages.

Percutaneous endoscopic translaminar lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of L5S1 intervertebral disc herniation

To observe the effeicacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic translaminar lumbar interbody fusion (PE-TLIF) in the treatment of L5S1 intervertebral disc herniation. The clinical data of 37 patients with L5S1 intervertebral disc herniation underwent PE-TLIF from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 21 females, aged from 30 to 68 years old, with a mean of (45.62±13.57) years;body mass index was from 19.5 to 28.8 kg/m2, with a mean of (24.33±3.51) kg/m2;the course of disease was from 18 to 48 months, with a mean of (27.18±6.65) months. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and complication rate were recorded; visual analogue scale(VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) before operation, 1 week, 6 months, 1 year after operation were observed. The operation time ranged from 78 to 171 min, with a mean of (120.74±41.19) min;intraoperative blood loss ranged from 61 to 102 ml, with a mean of (85.26±25.44) ml;and postoperative drainage ranged from 35 to 98 ml, with a mean of (40.75±12.17) ml. Complications occurred in 8 patients, including 2 cases of nerve injury, 4 cases of pain aggravated, 1 case of internal fixation loosening, and 1 case of intervertebral space nonfusion. The VAS, JOA score and ODI significantly improved after 1 week, 6 months, and 1 year after operation (P<0.05). PE-TLIF for the treatment of L5S1 intervertebral disc herniation has the advantages of less intraoperative blood loss, less trauma, and satisfactory short-term curative effect. It can effectively improve the symptoms of patients. However, the incidence of complications in the actual clinical practice is frequent, and surgical indications need to be strictly grasped.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy with Modified Sensation-Motion Separation Anesthesia for Beginning Surgeons in the Treatment of L5-S1 Disc Herniation.

PurposeTo compare the clinical effects of local anesthesia (LA), general anesthesia (GA) and modified sensation-motion separation anesthesia (MA) in percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) in the treatment of L5/S1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH) for the purpose of guiding junior surgeons.MethodsEighty-four patients with L5/S1 LDH underwent PEID using three anesthesia methods. Patients in the LA (26), GA (29) and MA (29) groups received a follow-up examination retrospectively. The general parameters, preparation and anesthesia duration, operative duration, recovery time, incidence of complications, ambulation time, length of hospital stay, incidence of severe complications, and reoperation rate were compared, and clinical outcomes were analyzed using a visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36).ResultsMA demonstrated obvious advantages over the other two methods with respect to operative duration and resulted in a better intraoperative experience than LA. The patients in the MA group required less time in bed postoperatively and shorter hospital stays than those in the GA group. The mean postoperative VAS, ODI and SF-36 scores were significantly better than the preoperative scores in all groups (P<0.05), but no significant differences in these scores were found among the three groups (P>0.05). Three cases (3/29) of nervous disorder occurred in the GA group. Two patients (one in the GA group (1/29) and one in the LA (1/26) group) underwent revision surgery, with a total recurrence rate of 2.4% (2/84).ConclusionDue to its high safety and good tolerance by patients, MA is a suitable method for spinal surgeons who are inexperienced with PEID in the treatment of L5/S1 disc herniation.

Responsiveness of the SF-36 general health domain: observations from 14883 spine surgery procedures.

The study evaluated perceptions of general health (GH) after surgical treatment of spinal stenosis and disk herniation. We used a large longitudinally collected data set to explore differences in responsiveness between the SF-36 GH domain, EQ VAS, EQ-5D index, and SF-6D index. Patients, surgically treated for lumbar spinal stenosis or lumbar disk herniation between 2007 and 2017, were recruited from the national Swedish spine register. A total of 14,883 procedures were eligible for analysis. The responsiveness of the SF-36 GH domain to surgical treatment was evaluated with the standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size (ES). The internal consistency of the GH domain was evaluated, ceiling and floor effects were assessed, and the correlation between GH domain and EQ VAS was analyzed. The SF-36 GH domain did not respond to surgical treatment of spinal stenosis and disk herniation. In contrast, EQ VAS, EQ-5D index, and SF-6D showed moderate to large responsiveness. There were pronounced ceiling effects in items 11a-c of the SF-36 GH domain. There was a negative effect size of change for item 11c. The internal consistency of the GH domain was satisfactory. There were marked differences in the correlations between EQ VAS and the GH domain preoperatively and postoperatively. The SF-36 GH domain should be used with caution when evaluating effects on GH perceptions after spine surgery procedures. The lack of responsiveness is most probably explained by ceiling effects for items 11a-c and a negative effect size of change for item 11c.

Perioperative Nursing Observation of Plasma Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Objective: To observe and analyze the perioperative nursing effect of plasma radiofrequency ablation for treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A total of 100 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation received from October 2017 to October 2020 were selected and randomly divided into two groups with 50 cases in each group. The control group received the conventional nursing model and the experimental group received the comprehensive nursing model. The two groups of nursing care were compared on satisfaction, SDS and SAS scores before and after treatment, VAS score and JOA score before and after treatment, and treatment effect. Results: The nursing satisfaction of the experimental group, SDS and SAS scores before and after treatment, VAS score and JOA score before and after treatment, and the treatment effect were better than those of the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The comprehensive nursing model has a significant effect on the perioperative nursing of the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation by plasma radiofrequency ablation. More popularization and application will help improve the treatment effect.