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The evidence-based approach for surgical complications in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to review the evidence-based approach for surgical complications following disc herniation.

Methods

A search of the primary English literature was conducted for research examining the outcomes and complications of surgical discectomy. Special regard was given to high-quality prospective randomized studies.

Results

The most commonly reported complications of surgical treatment of disc herniation are included in this review. Medical complications, and surgical complications including infection, durotomy, neurological injury, symptomatic re-herniation, and revision surgery are defined and systematically reviewed in detail for incidence, evaluation, and management.

Conclusion

This article provides the clinician and surgeon with a review of the evidence-based evaluation and management of surgical complications following disc herniation, offering best practice guidelines for informed discussions with patients in shared decision-making.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California Davis, 4860 Y Street Suite 3700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Robert Harper & Eric Klineberg

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  1. Robert Harper
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert Harper.

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Conflict of interest

Eric Klineberg MD declares personal fees from Depuy Synthes, personal fees from Stryker, personal fees from K2M, personal fees from Springer, personal fees from Trevena, personal fees from Allosource, grants and personal fees from AO Spine, personal fees from Medicrea, outside of the submitted work.

Robert Harper MD declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Harper, R., Klineberg, E. The evidence-based approach for surgical complications in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 43, 975–980 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4255-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4255-6

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