OBJECTIVE: Recurrent lumbar disc herniation is a condition that involves some difficulties in relation to diagnosis and treatment. It is important to identify factors that may influence recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed cases of patients operated for recurrent lumbar disc herniation between 2006 and 2008, seeking to identify the factors that have relation with this disease, and also reviewed the cases of patients that underwent primary surgery for herniated lumbar disc. RESULTS: We analyzed the cases of 20 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation and 27. For patients with recurrence, it was found that 95% had some degree of obesity determined by the Quetelet Index, based on Body Mass Index; it was also observed that 75% of cases were protruding with excellent results in 35% and good in 55%, 10% had severe residual conditions. In patients with primary hernia were studied 27 cases in which it was noted that 92% were operated before 6 months of the onset of the condition, 38% had excellent results, 40% good and 19% poor outcomes. Considering the variables with the Pearson correlation, it was found that the recurrence is related to smoking, work, diabetes and hypertension, and schooling, but not with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: It is remarkable that two of the factors are subject to change before or after the surgery, which can benefit the ir outcomes.
Recurrence; Intervertebral disk displacement; Spine, Surgery; Orthopedic procedures, Adverse Effects; Retrospective studies
