[MRI and computerized tomography in the evaluation of lumbar spine after herniated disk surgery].

The authors analyze the results of comprehensive radio-diagnosis in 44 patients previously operated on for lumbar hernias. All the findings of magnetic resonance tomography and computer-aided tomography were divided into 3 groups: (1) natural consequences of a surgical intervention without clinical manifestations; (2) complications after a surgical intervention; (3) recurrent hernias or hernias on an adjacent level. The most intricate problem was the differential diagnosis between a recurrent hernia and a postoperative epidural cicatrix. Criteria to distinguish between these two conditions are suggested. The authors emphasize that the optimal variant for examination of the patients operated on is a combination of magnetic resonance tomography and computer-aided tomography.