DURATION OF SYMPTOMS AS A PREDICTOR OF OUTCOME AFTER LUMBAR DISC SURGERY

Retrospectively 93 consecutive patients operated on for lumbar disc he rniation were studied in order to evaluate the prognostic value of sym ptoms (lumbar pain and sciatica) and sick-leave. Surgical results were evaluated 1-3 years postoperatively by a questionaire. The duration o f the present attack of sciatica and sick-leave prior to surgery was s ignificantly longer in the group with unsatisfactory outcome compared to the group with satisfactory outcome. Patients with duration of the present attack of sciatica of less than 6 months had a significantly b etter result concerning outcome compared to patients with duration of 6-12 months and more than 12 months. Patients who returned to the same type of work had a preoperatively statistically significant shorter d uration of present sick-leave, compared to the patients who had change d the type of work and the patients who did not return to work. The pa tients with duration of their present sick-leave of less than 6 months had a significantly higher percentage of returning to the same type o f work compared to patients with duration of their present sick-leave of 6-12 months and more than 12 months. We conclude that the duration of sciatica and sick-leave before the operation has value as predictiv e factors concerning the over-all result after surgery for lumbar disc herniation.