Pepeated operation for lumbar prolapsed disc: clinical analysis of 36 cases

cases with repeated operation for lumbar prolapsed disc were reported. The causes of reoperation were disc herniation in 24, amorng them 5 cases with central spinal stenosis and 10 with lateral spinal stenosis; periphiral adhesion of nerve root in 5 with central spinal stenosis in 1; scar formation of the nerve root with lateral spinal stenosis in 4; and injury of the cauda equina with adhesion of the subarachnoid space in 3. All patients were followed up for an average period of 39 months, ranging from 8 months to 8 years. The results of the reoperation were excellent in 10, good in 15, fair in 8, and poor in 3. The results were significantly related to the pathological change, nerve root compression due to recurrent disc hemiation or to bony compression. The patients responded well to repeat decompression, but sciatica due to scar formation was seldom improved by repeated operation. The key of the reoperation is the sufficient decompression of the lateral spinal.