Comparison of disk excision and combined disk excision and spinal fusion for lumbar disk ruptures.

In a series of private patients 77 per cent over-all satisfactory results were obtained from surgical disk excision performed without spinal fusion. Patients in whom spinal fusion combined with discectomy has been recommended by other authors are not much more satisfied than patients with discectomy alone without fusion (81% versus 74% satisfactory). Patients in whom the third party influence prevails were significantly more dissatisfied (only 59% satisfactory). Findings of a definite disk rupture at the time of surgery result in a higher incidence of satisfactory rating than those with degenerative changes or with normal findings.