Clinical effect of posterior unilateral or bilateral internal fixation on lumbar disc herniation

Objective To evaluate posterior unilateral or bilateral internal fixation on lumbar disc herniation.Methods In 46 patients with lumbar disc herniation,18 patients received unilateral internal fixation(unilateral group),and the other 28 patients received bilateral fixation(bilateral group).The operation duration,intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospitalization stay were compared between two groups.The clinical effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index score(ODI).Results The operation duration was shorter in unilateral group((113.84±12.49)min)than that in bilateral group((177.92±7.92)min)(P0.05).There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospitalization stay between unilateral group((189.47±140.02)mL,(6.47±1.71)days)and bilateral group((225.20±114.93)mL,(7.28±1.67)days)(P0.05).VAS and ODI scores were significantly lower after operation in unilateral group(2.44±0.62,25.44±1.95)and bilateral group(2.84±0.90,25.11±2.05)than those before operation(6.39±1.24,65.06±6.43;6.76±1.16,65.78±7.08)(P0.01,P0.05),showing no significant differences between two groups(P0.05).Fixation dislocation occurred in one patient in unilateral group in 5days after operation,which was improved after adjusting the position of screw.No loosening and breakage were found after operation.Conclusion Both unilateral and bilateral fixation can effectively relieve low-back pain and leg pain in patients with lumbar disc herniation.Unilateral fixation is superior to bilateral fixation in shortening the operation duration.