Comparative evaluation of functional outcome of discectomy versus discectomy with posterior lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of lumbar disc herniation

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Lumbar disc herniation is the most common cause of low back pain and significant disability with economic impact too. Management of disc herniation is challenging, often confusing when surgical treatment is considered, because of frequent failures after surgery in many patients to relieve symptoms.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Our study was a prospective study conducted in Department of Orthopaedics, Coimbatore medical college. Thirty six patients operated for intervertebral disc herniation of lumbar spine from March 2015 to February 2017 were included in the study.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> VAS score was not significant between two groups, at one month, but at 6 months, PLIF group had better VAS score and was statistically significant. ODI scores showed a similar pattern.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Discectomy for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation is still the procedure of choice but with any subtle instability, then it should be combined with stabilisation like posterior lumbar interbody fusion.</p>