MRI Radiological Predictors of Requiring Microscopic Lumbar Discectomy After Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate radiological differences in lumbar disc herniations (herniated nucleus pulposus [HNP]) between patients receiving microscopic lumbar discectomy (MLD) and nonoperative patients.

Methods: Patients with primary treatment for an HNP at a single academic institution between November 2012 to March 2017 were divided into MLD and nonoperative treatment groups.

Preoperative MRI predictors of health-related quality of life improvement after microscopic lumbar discectomy.

Background: Lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) is a common spinal pathology often treated by microscopic lumbar discectomy (MLD), though prior reports have not demonstrated which preoperative MRI factors may contribute to significant clinical improvement after MLD.

Purpose: To analyze the MRI characteristics in patients with HNP that predict meaningful clinical improvement in health-related quality of life scores (HRQoL) after MLD.

Study Design/setting: Retrospective clinical and radiological study of patients undergoing MLD for HNP at a single institution over a 2-year period.