Intervertebral disc lesions; surgical treatment, end results, disability ratings and cost in industrial accident injuries.

In lumbar intervertebral disc operations there is sometimes pronounced disparity between the clinical results and the results as reflected in the disability rating given by the Industrial Accident Commission. It is believed that the difference must be due to excessive complaining and exaggeration on the part of the claimant and his representative before the Commission, and that undue credence and importance are given to these subjective symptoms as compared with the objective findings as reported by the surgeon or clinician. Data in the present study indicate that the belief that surgical decompression of a single nerve root and removal of an injured or degenerated disc necessarily entails a certain degree of disability is not justified. Satisfactory clinical results were obtained in 93 per cent of compensation cases, but when settled or rated by the Industrial Accident Commission, only 59 per cent were closed as having good or excellent results.