[Lumbar discectomy and forominotomy].

17 patients, 11 males and 6 females, aged from 25 to 65 years (41.5 years, on average), suffered from lumbago and/or sciatica in various patterns, were operated upon. Lumbar discectomy and forominotomy were performed on 12 cases, and forominotomy only on 5. Follow-up of all the 17 patients found excellent and good results in 88.3% (15/17). Based on the experience from this small series of patients, we would suggest: forominotomy should be done on cases in whom neither disc protrusion nor yellow ligament thickening nor recess narrowing could be found, or the corresponding nerve root could not get free and still remain tight after discectomy, or the nerve root sustained tenderness on pressure when the operation was carried out under local anesthesia.