Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Recovery of severe motor deficit secondary to herniated lumbar disc prolapse: is surgical intervention important? A systematic review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The natural history of motor deficit due to lumbar disc herniation has been thought to be favourable. However, on closer analysis of seminal articles on this topic, this is not the case for patients with severe motor deficits (MRC grade ≤3). The aim of this study is to answer the following questions: (1) Is surgical intervention beneficial in patients with severe motor weakness (defined by MRC grade of 3 or less) due to herniated lumbar nucleus pulposus? (2) Does time to surgery from onset of motor weakness influence the outcome? (3) Are there any other prognostic factors?

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1970 upto July 2013. Inclusion criteria for studies are: (1) minimum of three patients aged 18 and older, who had symptomatic herniated lumbar disc prolapse and underwent surgery, (2) description of pre and post-operative muscle weakness utilising the Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle power grade or equivalent, such that both reviewers could confidently identify a cohort of patients with at least grade three motor weakness or worse, (3) a minimum of 6 months follow-up.

Results

Seven studies were identified with a total of 354 patients. Complete recovery was seen in 38.4 % of patients following surgery and 32 % following non-operative treatment. Age and grade of motor deficit were identified as significant prognostic factors in some of the studies.

Conclusion

The current available evidence is not robust enough to address the questions posed. We have proposed a framework for future studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mixtar WJ, Barr JS (1934) Rupture of the intervertebral disc with involvement of the spinal canal. N Engl J Med 211:210–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Peul WC, van Houwelingen HC, van den Hout WB, Brand R, Eekhof JA, Tans JT, Thomeer RT, Koes BW, Leiden-The Hague Spine Intervention Prognostic Study Group (2007) Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica. N Engl J Med 356(22):2245–2256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hakelius A (1970) Prognosis in sciatica. A clinical follow-up of surgical and non-surgical treatment. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl 129:1–76

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Weber H (1983) Lumbar disc herniation. A controlled, prospective study with ten years of observation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 8(2):131–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Weber H (1975) The effect of delayed disc surgery on muscular paresis. Acta Orthop Scand 46(4):631–642

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ryan R, HS Broclain D, Horey D, Oliver S, Prictor M (2007) Cochrane consumers & communication review group: study quality guide p 1–50

  7. Buttermann GR (2004) Treatment of lumbar disc herniation: epidural steroid injection compared with discectomy. A prospective, randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86A:670–679

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dubourg G, Rozenberg S, Fautrel B, Valls-Bellec I, Bissery A, Lang T, Faillot T, Duplan B, Briançon D, Levy-Weil F, Morlock G, Crouzet J, Gatfosse M, Bonnet C, Houvenagel E, Hary S, Brocq O, Poiraudeau S, Beaudreuil J, de Sauverzac C, Durieux S, Levade MH, Esposito P, Maitrot D, Goupille P, Valat JP, Bourgeois P (2002) A pilot study on the recovery from paresis after lumbar disc herniation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 27(13):1426–1431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ghahreman A, Ferch RD, Rao P, Chandran N, Shadbolt B (2009) Recovery of ankle dorsiflexion weakness following lumbar decompressive surgery. J Clin Neurosci 16(8):1024–1027

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Iizuka Y, Iizuka H, Tsutsumi S, Nakagawa Y, Nakajima T, Sorimachi Y, Ara T, Nishinome M, Seki T, Shida K, Takagishi K (2009) Foot drop due to lumbar degenerative conditions: mechanism and prognostic factors in herniated nucleus pulposus and lumbar spinal stenosis. J Neurosurg Spine 10(3):260–264

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jönsson B, Strömqvist B (1995) Motor affliction of the L5 nerve root in lumbar nerve root compression syndromes. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 20(18):2012–2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Postacchini F, Giannicola G, Cinotti G (2002) Recovery of motor deficits after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84(7):1040–1045

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Eysel P, Rompe JD, Hopf C (1994) Prognostic criteria of discogenic paresis. Eur Spine J 3(4):214–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sarikcioglu L, Yaba A, Tanriover G, Demirtop A, Demir N, Ozkan O (2007) Effect of severe crush injury on axonal regeneration: a functional and ultrastructural study. J Reconstr Microsurg 23(3):143–149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pham K, Gupta R (2009) Understanding the mechanisms of entrapment neuropathies. Review article. Neurosurg Focus 26(2):E7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Jancalek R, Dubovy P (2007) An experimental animal model of spinal root compression syndrome: an analysis of morphological changes of myelinated axons during compression radiculopathy and after decompression. Exp Brain Res 179(1):111–119

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Verdú E, Ceballos D, Vilches JJ, Navarro X (2000) Influence of aging on peripheral nerve function and regeneration. J Peripher Nerv Syst 5(4):191–208

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Aono H, Iwasaki M, Ohwada T, Okuda S, Hosono N, Fuji T, Yoshikawa H (2007) Surgical outcome of drop foot caused by degenerative lumbar diseases. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 32(8):E262–E266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Matsui H, Kanamori M, Kawaguchi Y, Kitagawa H, Nakamura H, Tsuji H (1997) Clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of compressed lumbar nerve roots. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 22(18):2100–2105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Girardi FP, Cammisa FP Jr, Huang RC, Parvataneni HK, Tsairis P (2002) Improvement of preoperative foot drop after lumbar surgery. J Spinal Disord Tech 15(6):490–494

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gioia G, Mandelli D, Capaccioni B, Randelli F, Tessari L (1999) Surgical treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation. Identification of compressed root and discectomy by lateral approach. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 24(18):1952–1957

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Blaauw G, Braakman R, Gelpke GJ, Singh R (1988) Changes in radicular function following low-back surgery. J Neurosurg 69(5):649–652

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Guigui P, Benoist M, Delecourt C, Delhoume J, Deburge A (1998) Motor deficit in lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective study of a series of 50 patients. J Spinal Disord 11(4):283–288

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK

    V. R. Balaji, K. F. Chin, S. Tucker, L. F. Wilson & A. T. Casey

Authors
  1. V. R. Balaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. F. Chin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Tucker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. F. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. T. Casey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. R. Balaji.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Balaji, V.R., Chin, K.F., Tucker, S. et al. Recovery of severe motor deficit secondary to herniated lumbar disc prolapse: is surgical intervention important? A systematic review. Eur Spine J 23, 1968–1977 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3371-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3371-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation