[Surgical treatment of radicular sciatica].

The surgical treatment of radicular sciaticas has to be fitted to the patient's mainly functional problem. In every case but the obviously surgical sciaticas due to tumor, surgery and percutaneous techniques must be discussed with regard to the anatomical factors participating in the root compression and the patient tolerance to his pain. The surgical approach is now limited but the disc removal must be extensive. Complications are very rare, especially infectious ones. Failures account for less than 10% in case of good indications and are related to recurrence of disc herniation and to so-called fibrosis. The operative results are to a large extent related to the patient's psychological profile and his active involvement in the treatment.