We reviewed the results of operative treatment in 32 patients with lumbar disc herniation in adolesence. During 1991-1996 we operated on 18 patients (13 men, 5 women, mean age at surgery, 16.4 years) with percutaneous discectomy (PD); 14 patients (10 men, 4 women, mean 15.5 years) with open discectomy. The post operative results, were excellent or good in 11 of 18 patients (61.1%) with PD, and in 13 of 14 patients (92.5%) with open disectomy, respectively. The average period of recovery to playing sports was 1.75 months with PD, 2.90 months with open disectomy. One of the important things in surgical treatment of lumbar disk herniation in adolesence is the period of recovery to full sporthing activities. In this study, it is suggested that PD is the most useful treatment for lumbar disk herniation in adolesence.
