Efficacy and safety of surgery for lumbar disc herniation in patients aged 80 and older.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgery for lumbar disc herniation in patients aged 80 or older. MATERIAL AND METHODS Operative time (OT), intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay (LOS), and complication rate (CR) were used to assess safety of surgery. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the North American Spine Society Outcome Questionnaire (NASS-Q) were used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness. RESULTS There were significant differences between the very elderly and the middle-aged group in LOS (P < 0.001), but not in OT, EBL and CR (all P > 0.05). The preoperative, post-operative and final follow up VAS and ODI scores were not significantly different between the two groups (each P > 0.05). However, the VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved after surgery and at ultimate follow up compared with those before surgery (all P < 0.001). Satisfaction with outcome was expressed by 39 (86.7%) of 45 very elderly patients. CONCLUSION Conventional laminectomy, discectomy and/or spinal fusion surgery is a feasible, safe and effective treatment in patients over age 80 with lumbar disc herniation compared with middle-aged patients.