Investigation of perioperative changes in sciatic nerve stiffness in patients with lumbar disc herniation using shear wave elastography:A longitudinal cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate changes in sciatic nerve stiffness in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) using shear wave elastography (SWE) before and after diskectomy. In addition, we explored the relationship between preoperative sciatic nerve stiffness in the affected side and patient characteristics, leg pain severity, and numbness.

Methods: We assessed sciatic nerve stiffness in 27 patients with LDH (nine females, mean age 45.1±15.3 years) preoperatively and one week postoperatively after diskectomy using SWE. We also measured patient characteristics such as age, height, body weight, leg pain severity, and numbness surgery.

Results: We found a significant decrease in sciatic nerve stiffness on the affected side postoperatively. However, there was no significant change on the unaffected side. In addition, preoperative nerve stiffness on the affected side correlated with preoperative leg pain intensity.

Conclusion: Sciatic nerve stiffness on the affected side was decreased at one week postoperatively compared with preoperatively. In addition, sciatic nerve stiffness on the affected side was correlated with leg pain severity.