Our experience in lumbar ganglionectomy. A critical comparison of the 1950-1965 and the 1966-1975 time spans.

The authors compare the figures for a sequence of lumbar ganglionectomy operations in 2 different time spans. They point to a reduction in lumbar ganglionectomy indications as related to the spreading of arterial reconstructive surgery. The follow-up review of the results has shown that th percent worsening rate in the second time span should be ascribed to a change in the kind of cases rather than to a modification in the nature of indications. The authors conclude by describing the role of lumbar ganglionectomy as fundamental in dysfunctional, inflammatory and peripheral degenerative forms, and supporting in reconstructive surgery operations on mixed atherosclerotic forms.