OBJECTIVETo analyze the problems and complications of posterior discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to June 2010, 497 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated by posterior discectomy, which data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 395 males and 102 females,ranging in age from 20 to 78 years with an average of 43.7 years. Among them, 405 cases were in single gap, 86 cases were in double gaps and 6 cases were in three gaps. The complication of operation and solution was analyzed.

RESULTSThe mean operative time was 70 min (from 45 to 210 min), and the mean hospitalization was 10 d (from 5 to 20 d). Forty-seven cases suffered operative complications. There were 16 cases of wrong location of segments (14 cases occurred in operation and 2 occurred after operation), 15 cases of less alleviation or aggravation of nerve symptoms (12 cases were poor alleviation and 3 cases were aggravation), 10 cases of urinary retention, 5 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 1 case of infection.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive process of posterior discectomy in treating lumbar disc herniation may complicate with many problems. The operative effects can be improved and the complication can be decreased if the ability of location is improved,surgical indications is correct and the operation is exactly performed.