Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the emotional state, pain status, and quality of life in patients with lumbar disc herniation using preoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and 1- and 3-months postoperative VAS scores. Between December 2017 and March 2018, 49 patients with lumbar disc herniation, who were admitted to our neurosurgery department, were enrolled in this retrospective study. According to the ODI questionnaire, pre- and postmicrodiscectomy analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in all the parameters (for all parameters, p < 0.001). VAS scores of the patients showed a significant gradual decrease in the severity of pain at 1 and 3 months following the operation (p < 0.001). It was observed that lower back pain and quality of life in patients improved following microdiscectomy surgery. Microdiscectomy surgery is still an important option in lumbar disc herniation treatment.

Key words: Lumbar disc herniation, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), microdiscectomy