Abstract
Objectives
To analyze our results following simple discectomy of central massive disc herniation focusing on instability for the usefulness of intervertebral fusion.
Summary of Literature Review
Lumbar instability is a complication of central massive disc herniation. However, there is limited evidence on the correlation between lumbar instability and loss of disc material.
Materials and Methods
A total of 25 patients who had undergone discectomy for a single-level lumbar disc herniation were followed up for two years. The clinical group (group A) included 12 patients that had a compromised canal with greater than 50% of the herniated disc, while the central axis of the herniated disc was less than 20% deviated from the center axis of the spinal canal, as seen on MRI. The control group (group B) had 13 patients that had a compromised canal with less than 50% of the herniated disc while their axis was more than 20% deviated from the center axis of the spinal canal. Clinical and radiologic instability, pain and functional disability were compared between the two groups.
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![]() | Fig. 1.MRI finding of disc herniation and the method of canal compromised area. A Canal compromised (%) = A/A+B × 100 BA (A + B : spinal canal area, A : involved canal area) |
![]() | Fig. 2.Axial lateralization of disc herniation in MRI Axial lateralization (%) = B/A ⨯ 100 (A : radius of spinal canal, B : length from canal center to axis of herniated disc) |
![]() | Fig. 3.Measurement of angular difference and horizontal displacement on flexion/extension radiogram (Radiographic method of Dupuis and co-workers) Horizontal displacement = AO – RO Angular displacement = θ”-θ’
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Table 1.
Constitution of the clinical group and control group
Group A | GroupB | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Case (no.) | 12 | 13 | ||||
Sex (M:F) | 3 : 9 | 11:2 | ||||
Age (years) | 39.75 | 41.69 | ||||
Canal compromised (%) | 71.06 | 27.47 | ||||
Axis lateralization rate (%) | 7.83 | 59.77 | ||||
Level | L4-L5 | L5-S1 | L4-L5 | L5-S1 | ||
11 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
Table 2.
Clinical result of clinical group and control group
Group A | GroupB | p-value | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-op | ODI | 32.08 | 32.15 | 0.972 |
VAS | 8.83 | 8.85 | 0.991 | |
1 months F/U | ODI | 7.17 | 7.00 | 0.917 |
VAS | 2.42 | 2.46 | 0.954 | |
2 years F/U | ODI | 2.58 | 2.08 | 0.610 |
VAS | 0.83 | 0.85 | 0.969 |