Surgical Outcomes of Lumber Discectomy in Patients With and Without Degenerative Spinal Lesions

Objective: to compare the outcomes of conventional open lumbar discectomy on lumbar prolapsed intervertebral disc in relation to the presence or absence of degenerative spinal lesions. study design: observational descriptive study. patients & methods: a total of 60 patients were included in the study having prolapsed intervertebral disc,divided into two groups. in group a,30 patients having simple prolapsed intervertebral disc with radiculopathy with or without neurological deficit,while in group b 30 patients having prolapsed intervertebral disc and degenerative spinal lesion diagnosed on radiographs. mri was main tool of investigation/diagnosis in both groups. surgical procedure hemilaminectomy and discectomy was done at the involved interspace on the appropriate side. results: in group a,19 patients were male and 11 patients were female while in group b,22 patients were male and 8 patients were female. twenty-seven patients (90%) in group a show good to excellent relief i.e. they are either completely pain free (23 patients) or had residual minor pain (4 patients),while 10% of patients shows little or no improvement. in group b,76.6% of patients shows good to excellent improvement i.e. they are either completely pain free (19 patients) or had residual minor pain (4 patients),while only 7 patients remained either same or shows little improvement (p = 0.29).