Pain and orthopaedic and neurologic signs after lumbar discectomy: a 2-year followup.

In a prospective study of 161 consecutive patients with lumbar discectomy, pain, lumbar mobility, and neurologic and root tension signs were followed up for at least 2 years. Sciatica and root tension signs decreased promptly after surgery and remained largely unchanged during followup, which was not the case for neurologic signs. Similarly, pain relief was not associated with neurologic signs but was associated with lumbar mobility and root tension signs. Patients without neurologic symptoms before surgery did not report more sciatica after 2 years than did those with positive neurologic signs before surgery. Positive crossed Lasegue sign and restricted lumbar mobility before surgery predicted better chances for postoperative pain relief. Patients with a ruptured anulus fibrosus at surgery had less sciatica and back pain after surgery than did patients with an intact anulus fibrosus.