Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN 2093-4378
eISSN 2093-4386
    J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 2003 Mar;10(1):25-29. Korean.
    Published online Mar 31, 2003.
    https://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2003.10.1.25
    Copyright © 2003 Korean Society of Spine Surgery
    Original Article

    Intraoperative Straight Leg Raising Test During Arthroscopic Microdiscectomy

    Jae-Sung Ahn, M.D., June-Kyu Lee, M.D., Youk-Sang Kwon, M.D. and Ui-Pyo Hong, M.D.
      • Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chungnam National University, Daejon, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to Jae-Sung Ahn, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chungnam National University, #640 Daesa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejon 301-721, Korea. Tel: 82-42-220-7353, Fax: 82-42-253-7098, Email: jsahn@cnuh.co.kr

    Abstract

    Study Design

    A prospective study.

    Purpose

    To assess the effectiveness of the straight leg raising test during an arthroscopic microdiscectomy.

    Materials and Methods

    52 patients, 38 men and 14 women, took part in this experiment. The mean followed up and age were 21, ranging from 13 to 41 months, and 26.4, ranging from 13 to 42 years old. There were 19, 28 and 9 cases between the 3rd-4th lumbar vertebrae, between the 4-5th lumbar vertebrae between the 5th lumbar vertebra and the 1st sacral vertebra, respectively. 41 patients were able to perform the SLRT (straight leg raising test) procedure, and were called group I, and 11 patients could not perform the test, and were classed as group II. In order to perform the intraoperative SLRT, a lateral decubitus position was adopted. After the disc removal, the SLRT was carried out. When the test result gave an angle of 70 degrees or greater, the surgery was carried out on a pertinent domain. The success of the surgery was graded by the JOA score.

    Results

    In group I, after removal of the disc, the first 31 patients were checked over a 4 week period to assess their recoveries. A year after the surgery, their follow up results were better than Good. In 9 patients, there were little improvements from the first SLRT, so they were re-tested after a 2nd discectomy, which resulted in improvements., with better than good results. 1 patient, whose test result was fair after four weeks and one year, was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, so underwent an operation. In group II, the SLRT during surgery was untestable, due to overweight and uncooperative patients. The results in 3 patients were fair, and in another 8 they better than good. Overall, 97.6% of the patients in group I showed a rapid recovery, but in the group II, only 72.2% showed a rapid recovery.

    Conclusion

    From the short term follow up, the use of a SLRT during surgery is very effective. Further research is required to give more precise results.

    Keywords
    Lumbar spine; Herniated nucleus pulposus; Arthroscopic microdiscectomy; Straight leg raising test

    Figures

    Fig. 1
    Positioning of patient during arthroscopic lumbar discectomy.

    Fig. 2
    This picture shows the technique of intraoperative straight leg raising test.

    Tables

    Table 1
    Judgement of effect of surgery (score rating system of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association)

    Table 2
    Follow up results of Straight leg raising test (Group I).

    Table 3
    Follow up results of straight leg raising test (Group II).

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    MeSH Terms
    Adult
    Diskectomy
    Female
    Follow-Up Studies
    Humans
    Leg*
    Lumbar Vertebrae
    Male
    Overweight
    Prospective Studies
    Spinal Stenosis
    Spine
    Metrics
    Share
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