Clinical and radiographic evaluation of disc excision for lumbar disc herniation with and without posterolateral fusion

Study Design. A prospective study evaluating the clinical and radiographic results in 95 patients with lumbar disc herniation. Objectives. To evaluate the results of disc excision, with and without post erolateral fusion. Summary of Background Data. The effect of posterolateral fusion on the outc omes and radiologic changes in patients with lumbar disc herniation has rar ely been reported. Methods. Forty-four patients underwent disc excision, and 51 patients under went disc excision and fusion. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the J apanese Orthopaedic Association Back scores. All medical and surgical recor ds were examined with regard to intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and other data. Preoperative and follow-up radiographs were analyzed to det ermine the spinal motion and disc height. Results. Clinical outcome was excellent or good in 73% of the nonfusion gro up and in 82% of the fusion group (P = 0.31). The reduction in lower back p ain after surgery was greater in the fusion group. The rate of recurrent di sc herniation at the surgical level in the nonfusion group increased, but i ntraoperative blood loss, operation time, length of hospital stay, and tota l cost of procedure were all significantly less in the patients undergoing disc excision alone than in the fusion group. The radiologic analysis provi ded evidence that the disc height at the level of disc excision and postero lateral fusion in the fusion group decreased with time, as in the nonfusion group. The changes in disc height and spinal motion were not related to th e clinical results. Conclusions. Although there is still controversy regarding the pros and con s of fusion in association with disc excision, there is seldom an indicatio n for primary fusion for lumbar disc herniation.