微创小切口侧前方腰椎间融合术治疗腰椎退变性疾病的近期疗效和围手术期并发症

目的:评估微创小切口侧前方腰椎间融合术(mini-open lateral-anterior lumbar interbody fusion,La LIF)治疗腰椎退变性疾病的近期疗效和围手术期并发症。方法:分析2016年4月~2017年5月应用La LIF治疗的63例(94个节段)腰椎退变性疾病患者的资料,男23例,女40例,年龄42~86岁(61±15岁)。腰椎间盘突出症8例,腰椎管狭窄症40例,腰椎滑脱症7例,成人退变性侧凸症8例。融合节段为单节段38例,双节段20例,3节段4例,4节段1例。L1/2 3例,L2/3 7例,L3/4 31例,L4/5 53例。不附加内固定即独立的(stand alone)La LIF共56例;同时行二期后路内固定术7例,其中2例非计划内后路手术(1例腰椎管狭窄症因术中终板损伤而行后路内固定术,1例腰椎间盘突出症因术后cage下沉及症状缓解不满意而二期在外院行后路腰椎椎弓根内固定术),另5例退变性侧凸症行计划内后路减压或不减压椎弓根内固定术。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术后并发症,比较术前、术后1个月、术后3个月和末次随访时的腰痛VAS评分及Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI),比较术前及末次随访时SF-36评分及X线片上手术节段椎间孔高度(intervertebral foramen height,FH)、椎间隙高度(intervertebral disc height,DH)和椎间孔面积(intervertebral foramen area,FA)。结果:63例患者完成随访,随访时间6.0±1.2个月(4~8个月)。单节段平均手术时间81±12min,平均术中出血量30±10ml;双节段平均手术时间130±21min,平均术中出血量50±12ml;3节段平均手术时间198±25min,平均术中出血量150±20ml;4节段手术时间220min,术中出血量300ml。术中出现静脉损伤1例,腹膜损伤1例,终板损伤2例(共3个节段)。术后1例出现切口红肿,对症治疗后缓解;4例出现一过性大腿前方疼痛或感觉异常,均在术后1个月内消失;1例出现下肢乏力,8周恢复正常。术后随访融合器下沉2例,融合器轻度移位8例。无病例因内置物失败、重要脏器损伤、术区感染等并发症而需行翻修手术。所有患者症状在随访过程中均逐渐改善,术后1个月、3个月及末次随访时VAS评分及ODI与术前比较均显著性改善(P0.05)。末次随访时SF-36评分较术前显著性改善(P0.05)。末次随访时手术节段FH、DH和FA较术前均显著性增加(P0.05)。结论:小切口La LIF作为一种微创腰椎融合术式,创伤小,出血少,手术时间短,围手术期并发症少,在治疗腰椎退变性疾病中具有较好的应用价值,严格选择手术适应证,不附加内固定的La LIF可取得较好临床效果。     

Anterior interbody arthrodesis with percutaneous posterior pedicle fixation for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine

This is a retrospective case series to evaluate clinical variables, complications and outcome of 50 patients who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) supplemented with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Twenty-four patients underwent single-level fusion and 26 patients had a two-level fusion for a total of 76 levels fused. The mean lengths of the anterior and posterior (including repositioning) portions of the procedure were 131 and 102 min, respectively. The mean estimated blood loss for the entire procedure was 288 ml. The overall adverse event rate was 12%. The mean VAS score for leg pain, VAS score for back pain and mean ODI all improved postoperatively. This study found that ALIF using allograft bone and rhBMP-2 combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation had a high fusion rate and a low incidence of perioperative complications. Patient outcomes showed significant improvements in back and leg pain and physical functioning.     

Subsidence after anterior lumbar interbody fusion using paired stand-alone rectangular cages

The authors conducted a study to determine at what stage after surgery the subsidence occurred, and to assess the relationships of radiographic fusion and the recurrence of symptoms with the development of subsidence. Ninety patients underwent a single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) using paired stand-alone rectangular cages between November 2000 and June 2002. All patients had regular clinical or imaging follow-up for a minimum of 19 months (range 19-38 months, mean = 27 months). The ratio of male to female patients was 1:3.1. The patients' ages at the time of ALIF ranged from 25 to 72 years, with a mean of 53 years. The preoperative and postoperative intervertebral disc heights were serially measured by plain radiographs. The location of cage subsidence into the vertebral body and times until the presence of subsidence were also assessed. The mean preoperative intervertebral disc height was 11.6+/-3.1 mm, which spread immediately after surgery to 16.9+/-2.0 mm. This increase was statistically significant (P = 0.001). At the last follow-up visit, the mean intervertebral disc height had been reduced to 13.2+/-2.4 mm. Sixty-nine of 90 patients (76.7%) developed cage subsidence into the surrounding vertebral body. Subsidence was more often noted in the superior endplate above the cage with regard to the location of cage subsidence [superior endplate: 27 patients (39.1%), inferior endplate: 12 patients (17.3%), both: 30 patients (43.6%)]. The onset of subsidence varied from 0.25 to 8 months after surgery (median, 2.75 months). The 8-, 12-, and 16-week actuarial rates for developing cage subsidence were 38.9, 63.4, and 70.7%, respectively, when using the Kaplan-Meier method. There was no statistical correlation between the recurrence of symptoms (P = 0.3952) and radiographic fusion (P = 0.9518) with the log-rank test in development of subsidence. This study demonstrates that cage subsidence is an expected occurrence after ALIF using stand-alone rectangular cages. The 3- and 4-month actuarial rates for developing cage subsidence were 63.4 and 70.7%, respectively, and cage subsidence had no correlation with recurrence of symptoms and radiographic fusion in our study.     

腹腔镜辅助与小切口技术行前路L4/5椎间融合术的比较

目的:评价腹腔镜辅助与小切口技术在前路腰椎间融合术中的应用价值。方法:1998年4月～2005年1月行L4/5前路腰椎间融合术52例,腹腔镜辅助下前路椎间融合手术23例(A组),其中男13例,女10例,平均年龄37.9±1.8岁;腰椎滑脱症14例,退变性椎间盘疾患4例,腰椎术后综合征5例。小切口经腹膜后前路椎间融合手术29例(B组),其中男16例,女13例,平均年龄37.4±1.6岁;腰椎滑脱症21例,退变性椎间盘疾患3例,腰椎术后综合征5例。对两组患者围手术期参数和并发症进行统计学分析比较。结果:A组与B组分别平均随访23.5个月和21.2个月,两组临床优良率、椎间高度维持和植骨融合率均无显著性差异(P>0.05),A组手术准备和操作时间明显长于B组(P<0.05),其住院时间、术中出血量与小切口组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。并发症:A组4例,发生率17.4%;B组3例,发生率10.3%,两组有显著性差异((P<0.05)。结论:应用腹腔镜辅助和小切口技术进行L4/5椎间融合都可以达到良好的临床治疗效果,但从并发症和技术上分析,采用小切口经腹膜后行L4/5椎间融合更为合理和微创,操作方便、快捷,不需特殊设备。     

Hybrid construct for two levels disc disease in lumbar spine

Prospective study. To study the validity of Hybrid construction (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) ALIF at one level and total disc arthroplasty (TDA) at adjacent, for two levels disc disease in lumbar spine as surgical strategy. With growing evidence that fusion constructs in the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) may alter sagittal balance and contribute to undesirable complications in the long-term, total disc arthroplasty (TDA) slowly becomes an accepted treatment option for a selected group of patients. Despite encouraging early and intermediate term results of single-level total disc arthroplasty reported in the literature, there is growing evidence that two-level arthroplasty does not fare as well. Hybrid fusion is an attempt to address two-level DDD by combining the advantages of a single-level ALIF with those of a single-level arthroplasty. 42 patients (25 females and 17 males) underwent Hybrid fusion and had a median follow-up of 26.3 months. The primary functional outcomes were assessed before and after surgery with Oswestry Disability Index and the visual analogue score of the back and legs. Patients were divided into four groups according to the percentage improvement between preop and postop ODI scores. A total of 42 patients underwent a hybrid fusion as follows: 35 L5-S1 ALIF/L4-5 prosthesis, 3 L4-5 ALIF/L3-4 prosthesis, 2 L5-S1 ALIF/L4-5 prosthesis/L3-4 prosthesis, 1 L5-S1 prosthesis/L4-5 ALIF, and 1 L5-S1 ALIF/L4-5 ALIF/L3-4 prosthesis. At 2-years clinical outcomes, mean reduction in ODI is 24.9 points (53.0% improvement compared to preop ODI). The visual analogue score for the back is 64.6% improvement. At 2-year clinical outcomes, Hybrid fusion is a viable surgical alternative for the treatment of two-level DDD in comparison with two-level TDA and with two-level fusion.     

Anterior lumbar fusion using a memory alloy implant

Surgical Principles The use of a memory alloy implant is a special adjunct to anterior lumbar spine fusion. Primary stabilization is achieved by means of an interbody memory implant made of nickel-titanium (Figure 1). The implant is anchored thanks to a specific memory effect of the alloy [1–4]: Following warming of the inserted implant to at least 45°C, it expands in height, thus wedging itself into a stable position between the two vertebrae (Figures 2a and 2b). Fusion is achieved by applying autologous iliac crest bone into and around the implant. Revised Version from: Operat. Orthop. Traumatol. 2 (1990), 93–104 (German Edition).     

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumber interbody fusion and degenerative lumbar spine disease

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease.

Methods

A prospective analysis of 34 consecutive patients who underwent a MI-TLIF using image guidance between July 2008 and November 2010. The patient group comprised 19 males and 15 females (mean age 56), 23 of whom had undergone additional reduction of spondylolisthesis. All patients underwent post-operative CT imaging to assess pedicle screw, cage placement and fusion at 6 months. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were recorded pre-operatively and at 6-month follow up.

Results

33/34 (97.1 %) patients showed evidence of fusion at 6 months with a mean improvement of 27 on ODI scores. The mean length of hospital stay was 4 days. The mean operative time was 173 min.

Complications observed

1/34 (2.9 %) suffered a pulmonary embolism and 1/34 (2.9 %) patients developed transient nerve root pain post-operatively. There were no occurrences of infection and no post-operative CSF leaks.

Conclusion

MI-TLIF offers patients a safe and effective surgical treatment option to treat degenerative lumbar spine disease.     

Minimally invasive or open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion as revision surgery for patients previously treated by open discectomy and decompression of the lumbar spine

Minimally invasive lumbar fusion techniques have been developed in recent 20 years. The goals of these procedures are to reduce approach-related soft tissue injury, postoperative pain, and disability while allowing the surgery to be conducted in an effective manner. There have been no prospective clinical reports published on the comparison of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion as revision surgery for patients previously treated by open discectomy and decompression or a traditional open approach. A prospective clinical study was performed by evaluating the clinical and radiographic results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion as an alternative new technique in the revision surgery for patients previously treated by open procedure. 52 patients (28 M, 24 F) with an average age of 55.7 (31–76) were prospectively evaluated. All patients who had previous discectomy (n = 13), hemilaminectomy (n = 16), laminectomy (n = 12) and facetectomy (n = 11) underwent monosegmental and bisegmental minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MiTLIF) (n = 25) or open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (OTLIF) (n = 27) by two experienced surgeons at one hospital, from March 2006 to October 2008 (minimum 12-month follow-up). The following data were compared between the two groups: the clinical and radiographic results, operative time, blood loss, X-ray exposure time, postoperative back pain, and complications. Clinical outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale and the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The operative time and clinical and radiographic results were basically identical in both groups. Comparing with the OTLIF group, the MiTLIF group had significantly less blood loss and less postoperative back pain at the second day postoperatively. The radiation time was significantly longer in the MiTLIF group. Complications included three cases of small dural tear in the MiTLIF group. There were five cases of dural tear and two cases of superficial wound infection in the OTLIF group. One case of nonunion was observed from each group. Minimally invasive TLIF is a safe and effective procedure for treatment of selected revision patients previously treated by open surgery with some potential advantages. However, this technique needs longer X-ray exposure time.     

Perioperative thrombotic occlusion of left external iliac artery during anterior lumbar interbody fusion

We report a case of thrombotic occlusion of left external iliac artery during the procedure of anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography. The patient also developed severe rhabdomyolysis postoperatively. In spite of receiving emergent thromboendarterectomy, the patient expired on postoperative day 3. This report attempts to remind spinal surgeons and anesthesiologists of this rare but potentially fatal complication, and discuss the possible mechanism, management, and prevention.     

Healing properties of allograft from alendronate-treated animal in lumbar spine interbody cage fusion

This study investigated the healing potential of allograft from bisphosphonate-treated animals in anterior lumbar spine interbody fusion. Three levels of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with Brantigan cages were performed in two groups of five landrace pigs. Empty Brantigan cages or cages filled with either autograft or allograft were located randomly at different levels. The allograft materials for the treatment group were taken from the pigs that had been fed with alendronate, 10 mg daily for 3 months. The histological fusion rate was 2/5 in alendronate-treated allograft and 3/5 in non-treated allograft. The mean bone volume was 39% and 37.2% in alendronate-treated or non-treated allograft (NS), respectively. No statistical difference was found between the same grafted cage comparing two groups. The histological fusion rate was 7/10 in all autograft cage levels and 5/10 in combined allograft cage levels. No fusion was found at all in empty cage levels. With the numbers available, no statistically significant difference was found in histological fusion between autograft and allograft applications. There was a significant difference of mean bone volume between autograft (49.2%) and empty cage (27.5%) (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study did not demonstrate different healing properties of alendronate-treated and non-treated allograft for anterior lumbar interbody fusion in pigs.     

改良经皮经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合术治疗腰椎退行性疾病的疗效分析

【摘要】 目的：分析改良经皮经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合术（modified percutaneous transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, MPTLIF）治疗腰椎退行性疾病的早期临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析2020年1月~2021年10月在陆军军医大学附属第二医院接受MPTLIF治疗的26例腰椎退行性疾病患者的临床资料,其中男性12例,女性14例;年龄44~77岁（58.3±8.4岁）;腰椎滑脱症16例,腰椎不稳伴神经根管狭窄症10例;L3/4 3例,L4/5 23例。统计患者手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间和术后引流量,术前、术后3d、术后3个月和末次随访时进行疼痛视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scale,VAS）,术前、术后3个月和末次随访时行Oswestry功能障碍指数（Oswestry disability index,ODI）评定,末次随访时采用改良MacNab疗效评定标准评价临床疗效。在术前和末次随访时的X线片和CT片上测量椎间隙前后缘高度、腰椎前凸角和手术节段前凸角。结果：所有患者均顺利完成手术,手术时间98.9±6.6min,术中出血量41.0±12.6mL,术后引流量38.1±9.5mL,术后平均住院时间3.8±0.9d,无硬膜外血肿、感染或肌肉麻痹瘫痪等并发症。随访17.7±4.2个月,术前和术后3d、术后3个月和末次随访时的VAS评分分别为5.85±0.67分、2.15±0.54分、1.12±0.33分、0.54±0.51分,术前、术后3个月和末次随访时的ODI分别为 （47.38±6.66）％、（11.73±6.73）％、（6.58±6.51）％,术后各时间点的VAS评分和ODI与术前比较均显著性改善（P<0.05）,且随着术后时间推移有进一步改善（P<0.05）;末次随访时改良MacNab 疗效评定标准评定优24例,良2例。末次随访时椎间隙前后缘高度（前缘10.95±1.24mm、后缘9.45±1.13mm）、腰椎前凸角（47.38°±4.56°）和手术节段前凸角（8.62°±1.92°）均较术前（前缘8.85±1.00mm、后缘6.78±1.07mm、43.81°±4.85°、6.62°±2.02°）有显著性改善（P<0.05）。结论：对严格适应证选择的病例,MPTLIF是一种安全、有效的微创治疗术式,治疗腰椎退行性疾病能够获得良好的早期临床疗效。     

Impalement injury of the lumbar spine

Impalement is an uncommon injury, which combines aspects of both blunt and penetrating trauma. Particularly, reported cases of impalement injury of the lumbar spine are very rare. We present a case of impalement in which a steel rod penetrated the back into the vertebral body of the lumbar spine as the result of a fall. This injury was treated successfully with irrigation, debridement, and removal of the foreign body in the operating room. Thereafter, a secondary posterolateral interbody fusion (PLIF) procedure was performed due to instability of the lumbar spine. After 1 year, the patient had regained good functional results.     

经皮内镜下经椎间孔与传统后入路椎间融合术治疗伴有腰椎不稳的腰椎管狭窄症的疗效对比

目的:比较经皮内镜下经椎间孔腰椎椎间融合术(percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion,PE-TLIF)和传统后入路椎间融合术(posterior lumbar interbody fusion,PLIF)治疗伴有腰椎不稳的腰椎管狭窄症患...     

椎间孔镜BEIS技术用于60岁以上腰椎手术失败综合征的观察

目的:评价BEIS(broad easy immediate surgery)技术行椎间孔镜下髓核摘除射频消融术治疗60岁以上腰椎手术失败综合征的中期疗效。方法:对2010年1月至2015年1月收治的40例60岁以上的腰椎手术失败综合征患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,其中男34例,女6例,年龄60～76岁,平均66岁,病程10个月～4年。根据两组治疗方法的不同分为BEIS组和翻修组,BEIS组用BEIS技术行椎间孔镜下髓核摘除射频消融术,翻修组行经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合术(transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion,TLIF)进行腰椎翻修。两组的性别、年龄、病程、手术节段对比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),观察两组患者的手术时间、术中出血量、卧床时间、住院时间;术前与术后1个月、1年和3年采用视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)、日本骨科协会评分(Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score,JOA)对两组疗效进行比较。结果:BEIS组的手术时间为(60.2±10.3) min、术中出血量为(60.1±4.5) ml、术后卧床时间为(2.2±1.5) d、住院时间为(4.04±1.40) d,均显著低于翻修组(P0.05)。两组患者术后不同时间段的疼痛VAS、JOA评分较术前明显改善(P0.05),且两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:运用BEIS技术行椎间孔镜下髓核摘除射频消融术治疗60岁以上腰椎手术失败综合征疗效较TLIF翻修手术更好,且手术时间短、出血少,卧床及住院时间明显缩短,值得临床推广。     

腰椎前路椎间融合术临床应用进展

腰椎前路椎间融合术自O’Brien报道以来，目前已成为一种椎间融合的标准技术，广泛应用于椎体滑脱、椎间盘源性疼痛、腰椎失稳等病症的治疗。近年来，腰椎前路椎间融合术在临床应用方面进展很快，小切口术式的临床应用，腹腔镜下手术的开展，使手术趋向微创化；多种内固定器械开始用于临床以增强前路融合的稳定性；椎间融合器自外形到材料等都有很大发展，椎间融合率不断提高，同时，人们对其并发症也有更深刻地认识。本文对腰椎前路椎间融合术的临床应用现状进行综述。     

单节段微创经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合内固定治疗腰椎滑脱症的效果

目的:评价单节段微创经椎间孔腰椎椎体间融合(minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbodyfusion,MiTLIF)内固定治疗腰椎滑脱症的临床效果。方法:2007年1月~2010年3月163例腰椎滑脱症患者接受单节段MiTLIF和内固定治疗。男61例,女102例;年龄37～72岁,平均51.6岁。退变性腰椎滑脱97例,峡部裂性腰椎滑脱66例;Ⅰ度滑脱135例,Ⅱ度28例;L3滑脱7例,L4 86例,L5 70例。采用经最长肌和多裂肌间隙入路,可扩张工作通道置于关节突上,行MiTLIF和经皮椎弓根螺钉固定。将163例患者按时间顺序依次分为A组(第1~55例)、B组(第56~110例)和C组(第111~163例),统计手术时间、术中X线暴露时间、术中和术后出血量及并发症发生情况,并进行组间比较。采用腰痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)和功能障碍指数(ODI)评分评估临床效果,腰椎薄层CT扫描重建评价椎间融合情况。结果:163例术中出血100～750ml,平均330ml;术后出血10～175ml,平均57ml;手术时间83～230min,平均145min;术中X线暴露时间27～126s,平均59s。B组术中出血量和X线暴露时间与A组比较及C组手术时间、X线暴露时间、术中和术后出血量与A组比较均明显减少(P<0.05);C组手术时间、术中X线暴露时间、术中和术后出血量与B组比较亦明显减少(P<0.05)。7例术中硬膜囊撕裂,其中A组4例,B组2例,C组1例,均在术后第2天出现脑脊液漏,经对症处理术后5d内脑脊液漏停止。4例术后出现新的神经根损害表现,均为A组病例,通过内窥镜下减压和神经根松解后神经根损害症状消失。91例患者获得10～47个月随访,平均24.5个月。术前、术后3d及末次随访腰痛VAS评分分别为6.8±2.4分、1.5±0.6分和0.8±0.4分,术后3d及末次随访与术前比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。术前及末次随访ODI评分分别为39.4±5.1分和11.3±2.6分,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。末次随访椎间融合率为96.7%(88/91)。结论:采用单节段MiTLIF和经皮椎弓根螺钉固定治疗Ⅰ度、Ⅱ度腰椎滑脱症安全有效。     

后路微创化技术治疗下腰椎退变性疾病

目的介绍两种微创手术,通过减压和椎体间融合治疗部分下腰椎退变性疾病,总结该技术相对于传统开放术的利弊。方法 (1)经皮椎弓根螺钉植入+小切口椎板开窗或椎间盘镜下开窗减压,椎间植骨融合术,共9例;(2)小切口棘旁两侧分次有限暴露固定并减压椎间植骨融合术,共38例。所有病例分别于术后3、6、12个月得到随访。结果本组与传统术式相比,手术时间、出血量及骨性融合率都无显著性差异,但融合病发生率显著降低,术后开始训练时间显著提早。结论微创化术式可减少局部创伤,提早康复锻炼,降低融合病发生率。     

Esophagus perforation complicating anterior cervical spine surgery

Purpose  

To study the diagnosis and treatment strategy of esophagus perforation complicating anterior cervical spine surgery.     

Comparison of minimally invasive spine surgery using intraoperative computed tomography integrated navigation,fluoroscopy, and conventional open surgery for lumbar spondylolisthesis: a prospective registry-based cohort study

Background Context

To date, the surgical approaches for the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) using minimally invasive spine surgery assisted with intraoperative computed tomography image-integrated navigation (MISS-iCT), fluoroscopy (MISS-FS), and conventional open surgery (OS) are debatable.

Re-exploration of the lumbar spine following simple discectomy: a review of 23 cases

Summary A retrospective study of 23 patients is presented, all of whom complained of recurrent symptoms of back and leg pain following simple discectomy. Five patients (22%) had been refused further surgery by the original surgeon on the grounds that they were psychologically disturbed. On examining the clinical records, 18 patients were reported to have had frank disc prolapses found at operation. In 5 cases, disc tissues were removed even though disc prolapses had not been demonstrated. Among the 18 patients in whom disc prolapses had been removed at their first operations, we found recurrent prolapses at reoperation in only 2 of them (11%). We treated 19 of these patients by nerve root canal and foraminal decompressions and 4 by anterior lumbar interbody fusion operations. The mean follow-up period was 34 months. Satisfactory relief of symptoms was achieved in 21 cases. In the published literature, even after the advent of CT and MRI, the incidence of recurrent disc prolapse at reoperation varies markedly from author to author. The reasons for these differences are discussed. They appear to relate to three factors: 1. failure to differentiate acute disc prolapse from annular bulging which develops and is inevitably associated with disc space narrowing; 2. difficulty in distinguishing between MRI findings of scar tissue enhancement and local perineural ocdema due to persisting foraminal and nerve root canal stenosis; 3. failure to identify the existence of foraminal stenosis, which is sometimes demonstrated only in oblique plain X-rays showing facet hypertrophy and subluxations of zygapophyseal joints. We conclude that, after careful selection of patients and assessment of pre-operative imaging studies, foraminal and nerve root canal decompressions that restore the perineural venous circulation in the lumbar spine will result in satisfactory relief of symptoms in the majority of patients who present with recurrent or persistent leg pains following simple discectomy and that spinal fusion is indicated in only a few cases.