Risk Factors for Recurrence of Disc Herniation After Single-Level Lumbar Discectomy

Objective: Herniated nucleus pulposus is a common disease of the lumbar spine. Recurrence of disc herniation and subsequent disc degeneration are the most common problems following discectomy. Many first-time lumbar discectomy patients experience favorable outcomes; however, same-level recurrent discectomy can occasionally induce unfavorable results. Therefore, in this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk factors for recurrence of lumbar disc herniation after discectomy.Methods: From January 2013 to December 2015, 226 patients underwent one-level discectomy in our department. We excluded patients with less than two years of follow-up, a previous spine deformity with a compression fracture, foraminal or extraforaminal discs, or a history of previous lumbar operation history, leaving 71 selected patients. Patients were divided into recurrent and non-recurrent groups and various factors were retrospectively compared between the groups.Results: Patients with preoperative disc space narrowing experienced recurrence less commonly; however, this was not statistically significant (10.0% and 25.5%, respectively; p=0.150). A disc height decrease of more than 20% during the follow-up period was a statistically significant risk factor for recurrence (36.4% and 14.3%, respectively; p=0.035), and grades 3 and 4, compared to grades 1 and 2, facet joint degeneration were also statistically significant risk factors for recurrence of disc herniation (41.2% and 14.8%, respectively; p=0.020).Conclusion: Patients who underwent more than a moderate degree of preoperative facet joint degeneration on the operated side and for whom the progression of disc space height decreased during the follow-up period may require closer observation for recurrence of disc herniation.