THE RADIOLOGICAL DIVINER OF THE RESIDUAL SCIATICA AFTER LUMBAR DISC SURGERY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Conventional and microscopic spinal surgeries are commonly performed procedures for disc herniation. Lumbar spinal surgery indeed is benecial, but its results are highly variable and hard to predict. In one third of patients, low back pain is not completely alleviated, or it recurs, and these cases might enroll into the category of « failed back surgery syndrome » . To interpret the postoperative imaging results properly, it is essential to understand the natural course of the surgical procedure in addition to the normal postoperative appearances. OBJECTIVES: This study steered to appraise the connotation between nerve root alterations, disc space changes, and epidural brosis amendments in relation to the postoperative clinical presentation. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Patient images and medical reports from January 2016 till January 2020 were acquired from the King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) database and reviewed in a retrospective analysis. This study was approved by the Royal Medical Services Institutional ethics committee (46/11/2020). RESULTS: The study nal population included 71-males and 52-females, with 178-disc levels operated, who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, male-to-female ratio was 1.37:1, while median age was 47.31±6.7years. CONCLUSION: The clinical importance of postoperative nerve root alterations is still being debated. The coexistence of nerve root thickening, enhancement, epidural brosis with recurrent sciatica postoperatively may induce surgical treatment. This study showed that detailed knowledge regarding surgical procedures, the normal course of the postoperative changes, and potential complications is essential for proper conclusive evaluation.