Abstract

 

Aim: The scope of this study is to investigate the correlation between the clinical and radiological findings of

high level lomber disc hernia (L1-2, L2-3, L3-4) and surgical outcome.

Material and Method: 23 high level lomber disc hernia out of 262 lomber disc cases operated between

January1996 and November 2001 at the department of Neurosurgery , Faculty of Medicine, İnönü Üniversity

(Malatya Turkey) were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: 39.1% of the cases were male and 60.9% were female. The mean age was 49.6. The mean interval

between the initial complaint and the admittance was 3.7 months. The incidence of high level lumbar disc hernia

was 8.8% and were mostly seen on L3-L4 level (78.3%). CT and myelography were performed in 13% of the

cases and MRI and CT on the rest (87%). Only one case having the initial operation in our clinic required a

second surgery with the diagnosis of recurrent disc hernia.

Conclusion: None of the patients after surgery declared preoperative pain. Postoperative early evaluation using

Prolo scale revealeed 56% good and 44% fair results. Reevaluation on the postoperative sixth month disclosed

87% good and 13% fair results. All of the patients benefited from surgery.

Key Words: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Lumbar, Disc, High Level Disc Hernia