[Disk hernia, operate or not?].

There is often a high degree of uncertainty concerning the treatment of disc hernias. In cases with uncertain indication for operation only few hard data are available to base therapeutic decisions on. According to the few available controlled studies, which are discussed in detail, surgery yields better results only in the first year after surgery. There is no difference in the longer-term prognosis between surgery and physiotherapy. The need for further controlled trials using modern imaging techniques is obvious.