THE RESULTS OF SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF LUMBAR ARACHNOIDITIS

Forty patients with lumbar arachnoiditis, following previous operation s, were classified into 4 myelographic types. Most patients with type I images had herniated disc symptoms with unilateral leg pain and limi ted straight-leg raising. Patients with types II and III myelographic appearances had bilateral leg pain, absent ankle jerks, weakness, cram ps and signs of diffuse sensory deficit; some also had neurogenic clau dication and urinary sphincter dysfunction. All patients with type IV had dysaesthesia. Twenty-three of the 40 patients underwent reoperatio n and those with types I and II had acceptable results, but poor resul ts occurred in those with types III and IV myelograms.