Foraminal and extraforaminal lumbar disk herniations.

Thirteen patients with foraminal or extraforaminal lumbar disk herniation were treated during a 32-month period. Myelography and magnetic resonance imaging proved to be ineffective in identifying the lesion in most patients. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated the lesions in all patients, and the findings were subsequently confirmed at surgery. Surgical treatment consisting of disk fragment removal and nerve root decompression was effective in relieving radicular pain.