EXCISION OF HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Eighty-eight patients were treated at the Alfred I. duPont Institute f or disc disease from 1940 to 1989. Forty-eight patients, with an avera ge age of 16 years, underwent discectomy. Twenty-three patients were f ollowed for an average of 6 years after initial presentation. Thirteen patients, with an average age of 15 years, and who had radiographic d ocumentation of disc disease, were treated nonoperatively. Eight patie nts were followed for an average of 6.3 years. The results of discecto my were rated as excellent or good in 91% of the patients, and poor in 9% at follow-up. In the patients treated nonoperatively, the results were rated as excellent or good in 25%, and poor in 75%. Our 6 year fo llow-up study suggests that discectomy yields excellent to good long-t erm results in children and adolescents.