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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BACK SURGERY YIELDS GOOD RESULTS FOR PATIENTS WITH SCIATICA, STUDY FINDS

PHILADELPHIA, PA May 15, 2001 - Back surgery provides better long-term outcomes than nonsurgical treatment for patients with moderate to severe sciatica caused by a herniated disk in the lower back, suggests a five-year study reported in the May issue of the journal Spine.

However, some key outcomes--including long-term disability rates--show little difference between surgical and nonsurgical treatment, according to the new report.

Led by Dr. Steven J. Atlas of Harvard Medical School, the researchers compared 5-year results in two groups of patients with sciatica caused by a herniated disk in the lumbar spine (lower back). Two hundred twenty patients underwent surgery, while 182 received nonsurgical treatments, such as exercise, physical therapy, and medications.

The overall results were better with surgery. Seventy percent of patients undergoing surgery had improvement in their back and leg pain at five years--follow-up, compared with 56 percent of those treated non-surgically. The surgical patients did better even though they had initially more severe symptoms.

Patients with sciatica have leg pain and other symptoms related to a herniated disk or other factors affecting nerve roots from the spine. Although thousands of Americans undergo lumbar spine surgery for sciatica each year, relatively few studies have compared the long-term outcomes of surgery vs nonsurgical treatment. The rates of such surgery vary widely among different geographic regions.

Patients with moderate to severe sciatica can expect better improvement in symptoms with surgery, the researchers conclude. However, up to one-fifth may require additional surgery. For patients reluctant to undergo surgery, nonsurgical treatment will also bring improvement, but slower and less complete.

Recognized internationally as the leading journal in its field, Spine reports on today's most important diagnostic and therapeutic advances regarding spinal pain, deformity, and disability. Distinguished by its broad scope of coverage and emphasis on patient care, this popular biweekly has earned must-read status in the orthopaedic community. For more information, call 1-800-638-3030 or visit