Surgery Versus Conservative Care For Persistent Sciatica Lasting 4 To 12 Months .
Surgery versus Conservative Care for Persistent Sciatica Lasting 4 to 12 Months.
N Engl J Med . 2020 Mar 19;382(12):1093-1102.One hundred twenty-eight patients with sciatica lasting 4 to 12 months due to lumbar disc herniation were randomized to receive either microdiscectomy (n=64) or 6 months of standardized nonoperative care (n=64). The primary outcome was leg pain intensity at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SF-36 quality-of-life scores, employment status, and treatment satisfaction, assessed at multiple time points up to 12 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed that microdiscectomy led to a significantly greater reduction in leg pain at 6 months and consistent improvements in secondary outcomes. These findings suggest that surgery is more effective than prolonged conservative care in managing persistent sciatica beyond 4 months.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or upgrade today and gain access to all OrthoEvidencecontent for as little as $1.99 per week.
Already have an account? Log in
0 of 4 monthly FREE articles unlocked
