Long-term results of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse.

A series of 40 patients is presented at least ten years following anterior spinal fusion for intervertebral disc prolapse. The proportion of patients who had complete relief or only isolated transient symptoms at the five-year review (67.5%) showed only a very slight fall over the years (65.0%). The union rate was shown to improve with time. There was no clear evidence that anterior spinal fusion led to accelerated degeneration of adjacent intervertebral discs. The significance of posterior extension of the fusion is discussed.