Lumbar disk herniations

Abstract

Lumbar disk herniations are common in the adult population and may be associated with substantial patient morbidity as well as personal and societal costs. Surgical treatment provides effective relief in carefully selected patients with severe or ongoing symptoms or in those who do not improve with nonsurgical care. The goal of surgical treatment is to provide adequate nerve root decompression and minimize soft-tissue damage without resultant spinal instability. Treatment of recurrent disk herniation is controversial but generally consists of revision diskectomy, with fusion reserved for multiple recurrences or instability.