Comparison of simple discectomy and uninstrumented lumbar interbody fusion in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of simple discectomy (SD) and uninstrumented posterior lumbar interbodyfusion (PLIF) or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Materials and Methods: The files of randomly selected 100 patients with LDH, who underwent SD, were analyzed. The patients weredivided into two groups as Group 1 involving 50 patients undergoing SD alone and Group 2 involving 50 patients undergoing SD plusunilateral PLIF and TLIF without posterior lumbar instrumentation. The pain was measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) and thefunctionality of the patients was measured by the Oswestry disability index (ODI).Results: In both groups, leg and low back pain VAS scores and ODI scores improved significantly one year after surgery (p