Clinical Investigation of Failed Lumbar Disc Surgery Requiring Second or Third Operation

Abstract

33 patients who had undergone lumbar disc surgery previously and had required two or more operative procedure have been evaluated.
The indications for reoperation were as follows;
1. Recurrent disc protrusion 9
a) same level as previous surgery 1
b) different level from previous surgery 1
2. Segmental Instability 17
3. Post-operative lumbar canal stenosis
with arachnoiditis 2
without arachnoiditis 2
4. Nerve root scarring 2
Twenty five (recurrent disc protrusion: 8, segmental instability: 17) of the 33 patients underwent anterior discotomy and interbody fusion.
One with nerve root scarring and four with post-operative lumbar canal stenosis underwent laminectomy and facetectomy.
One with nerve root scarring, one with post-operative stenosis and segmental instability at the same level, underwent procedure both anterior and posterior approach respectively. Reoperative results of the 30 patients which had lumbar disc surgery 6 or more months previously were Exellent 6 (20%), Good 20 (60%) and Fair 4 (13%).