Lumbar disc disease forms the second most common cause for medically authorized absence from work. The technique of lumbar disc surgery has undergone significant modifications. Objective: To study the efficacy of interlaminar discectomy and selective foraminotomy technique for the relief of lumbar radicular pain in patients with prolapsed intervertebral disc. Methods: We made a prospective study of forty patients underwent Interlaminar discectomy and selective foraminotomy from October 2008 to April 2010 In Benha university hospital and Mabarra hospital and All those patients had positive straight leg raising (SLR) sign (less than 60 degree) and prolapsed 14-5 or L5-S1 disc on MRI. Efficacy of disc excision was measured using Dennis pain scale. Findings were documented on the day of discharge and six months post- operatively. Results: forty patients were studied, twenty-six of them (65%) presented in Dennis pain scale 4, eight patients (20%) were in P3 and six patients (15%) were in Dennis pain scale 5. One month after disc excision, Complete pain relief (P1), was achieved in 32 patients (80%), 5 patients (12.5%) were in P2 and 3 patients (7.5%) in P3 according to Dennis pain scale. No patients in this study deteriorated after surgery. Conclusion: Interlaminar discectomy and selective foraminotomy is a safe, effective and reliable surgical technique for treating properly selected patients with herniated lumbar disc at L4-5 or L5-S1 levels. |
