H. Matsui et al., SIGNIFICANCE OF SCIATIC SCOLIOTIC LIST IN OPERATED PATIENTS WITH LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION, Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976), 23(3), 1998, pp. 338-342
Study Design. The authors retrospectively reviewed the relation betwee
n the location of disc herniation and pre-and postoperative change in
sciatic scoliotic in 40 patients with surgically confirmed lumbar disc
herniation who had sciatic scoliotic list with postoperative recovery
. Clinical factors associated with scoliosis also were included. Objec
tives. To evaluate the significance and pathomechanism of sciatic scol
iotic list. Summary of Background Data. The proposed causes of lumbar
sciatic scoliosis mainly imply an alleviation of nerve root irritation
in relation to the anatomic location of disc herniation relative to t
he nerve root. Methods. The pre-and postoperative serial Cobb angle be
tween L1 and L5 in anteroposterior lumbar radiographs in the standing
position were measured. The relation between the convex side of scolio
sis and clinical parameters In terms of the side of symptoms, age, gen
der, duration of low back pain or leg pain, the angle of a positive st
raight leg raising test, and the lime required for recovery of sciatic
scoliosis were investigated. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging
also was performed in five recent cases from 40 patients. Results. The
average Cobb angle decreased from 10.7 degrees to 2.7 degrees within
an average of 7.5 months after surgery. The preoperative Cobb angle of
patients with disc herniation medial to the nerve root was significan
tly higher than that just beneath or lateral to the nerve root. Thirty
-two of 40 patients (80.0%) had a lumbar disc herniation at the convex
side of scoliosis, irrespective of the transverse location of the her
niation. The time required for scoliosis disappearance in disc herniat
ion located lateral to the nerve root tended to be longer than that fo
r other types of disc herniation. Magnetic resonance imaging through t
he paramedian planes showed enlargement of the intervertebral foramen
at the convex side of scoliosis, compared with that at the concave sid
e in five recent cases from the current study. Conclusion. These resul
ts suggest that sciatic scoliotic list is not a predictive factor of t
he anatomic location of disc herniation; rather, it is only suggestive
of the side of disc herniation. The location of disc herniation may a
ide in the preoperative estimation of the recovery of the scoliosis.