IngentaConnect Fast Track Article: Conservatively treated massive pr...lapsed discs: a 7-year follow-up

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION The natural history of a lumbar hernia of the nucleus pulposus (HNP) is not fully known and clear indicationsfor operative intervention cannot be established from the literature. Several studies have shown that the largest discs appear tohave the greatest tendency to resolve. The aim of this study was to investigate whether massive prolapsed discs can be safelymanaged conservatively once clinical improvement has occurred.

PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-seven patients were studied by clinical assessments and serial magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) over 2 years. Patients had severe sciatica at first, but began to show clinical improvement despite the large disc herniations.Clinical assessment included the Lasegue test and neurological appraisal. The Oswestry Disability Index was used tomeasure function and changes in function. Serial MRI studies allowed measurement of volume changes of the herniated discmaterial over a period of time.

RESULTS Initial follow-up at an average of 23.2 months revealed that 83% had a complete and sustained recovery at the initialfollow-up. Only four patients required a discectomy. The average Oswestry disability index improved from 58% to 15%.Volumetric analysis of serial MRI scans found an average reduction of 64% in disc size. There was a poor correlation betweenclinical improvement and the extent of disc resolution.

CONCLUSIONS A massive disc herniation can pursue a favourable clinical course. If early progress is shown, the long-termprognosis is very good and even massive disc herniations can be treated conservatively.

Conservatively treated massive prolapsed discs: a 7-year follow-up