Microscopic Discectomy Outcomes in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients

Background: Radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc is one of the most common determinant of sciatica. Most patients with sciatica respond well to non-surgical treatment. Surgery is performed when there is an established neurological deficit or when conservative management is not successful in achieving positive results in pain.Objective: To evaluate the frequency of good outcomes regarding pain relief after lumbar microscopic discectomy in adult patients presenting with radiculopathy.Material and Methods: Current study includes 80 patients, both male and female between 20-70 years and admitted for herniated lumbar disc surgery. Microscopic discectomy was performed in all these patients. Outcome variable was frequency of good outcome in terms of post-operative pain ≤ 4/10. Informed consent in written was obtained from the individual patient.Results: In 73 (91.3%) cases good outcome was observed. No substantial difference was noticed in the frequency of good outcome according to the duration of herniated disc (p = 0.960), pre-operative pain score (p = 0.499), age (p = 0.851) and gender (p = 0.703).Conclusion: Good outcome was observed in 91.3% patients presenting with herniated lumbar disc undergoing microscopic discectomy regardless of patient’s age, gender, pre-operative pain and duration of disc herniation.