[High level of satisfaction among patients despite persistent symptoms in the mid-long-term following surgery for lumbosacral radicular syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the mid-long-term outcomes after surgery in patients with lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS) and to identify prognostic factors for persisting LRS symptoms.

DESIGN

Descriptive retrospective and prospective.

METHOD: A total of 250 consecutive patients operated on by 7 neurosurgeons in four hospitals between May and December 2001 were selected from medical records. They were asked to take part in a telephone questionnaire at 6 and 19 months after operation. They had all undergone discectomy for LRS at L4-L5 or L5-S1 and were aged from 18 to 65.

RESULTS

Of the 250 patients, 163 participated in the study: 63% reported that they still had LRS-related symptoms 19 months after surgery. However, severe leg pain had decreased in 83% of the patients. In general the patients were satisfied with their treatment. Female gender and an age of 51-65 were prognostic factors for persistent LRS symptoms.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the patients reported LRS symptoms 19 months after surgery.