One year outcome after surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a comparison of reoperated and not reoperated patients.

OBJECTIVES To assess the disability level and quality of life of the patients who had been reoperated and not reoperated because of lumbar disc herniation. METHODS 34 reoperated and 34 not reoperated patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively included in the study. The disability levels of the patients were evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index and the the quality of life was evaluated with SF-36. The measurements were repeated in the 2nd, 6th and 12th months after the operation. RESULTS The disability measurements of the reoperated and not reoperated patients were found to be significantly different in the 2nd, 6th and 12th months (p < 0.05); and it was noticed that the reoperated group had more disability levels than not reoperated patients in all the assessments. SF-36 measurement in the 2nd month showed significant differences in all parameters except pain (p < 0.05). There were important differences in all parameters of quality of life in the 6th month and significant differences were found in all parameters of quality of life except physical and emotional role limitation in the 12th month (p < 0.05) in favour of the not reoperated group. CONCLUSIONS The increase in the number of operations affects the disability level and quality of life negatively.