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Recovery of muscle strength after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up

European Spine Journal volume 21, pages 655–659 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Surgery has not been proven to be a better treatment option than non-operative management for limb paresis due to lumbar disc herniation. For the patients it will still be a concern, whether they will regain full strength after the operation or not.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 91 patients with preoperative paresis due to disc herniation with 1-year follow up was carried out. The primary outcome was muscle strength in affected limb, and the secondary outcome was self-reported symptoms on back and leg pain, disability, health related quality of life, general health and working capability.

Results

Seventy-five percent of patients had no paresis 1 year after the operation. The severity of the paresis was the only predictor for persistent paresis. Preoperative duration of the paresis did not influence the rate of full recovery. Non-recovery was associated with inferior outcomes and higher risk for reduced working capability.

Conclusions

The majority of patients with paresis were fully recovered 1 year after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation. If the paresis was severe at baseline, there was a four times higher risk for non-recovery. Patients who did not recover had significantly worse outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Anders Sandvigsgt 17, Lillehammer, 2609, Norway

    Greger Lønne

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Greger Lønne & Øystein P. Nygaard

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, 9038, Norway

    Tore K. Solberg & Kristin Sjaavik

  4. The Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery (NORspine), North Norway Regional Health Authority, Tromsø, Norway

    Tore K. Solberg & Øystein P. Nygaard

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of St. Olav, Olav Kyrresgt 17, Trondheim, 7030, Norway

    Øystein P. Nygaard

Authors
  1. Greger Lønne
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  2. Tore K. Solberg
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  3. Kristin Sjaavik
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  4. Øystein P. Nygaard
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Correspondence to Greger Lønne.

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Lønne, G., Solberg, T.K., Sjaavik, K. et al. Recovery of muscle strength after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up. Eur Spine J 21, 655–659 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-2122-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-2122-x

Keywords

  • Lumbar spine
  • Disc herniation
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Limb paresis
  • Intervertebral disk