Indications for Intervertebral Disk Surgery

1. Progressive motor weakness from nerve root injury demonstrated on clinical examination or electromyography (EMG),

2. Bowel or bladder disturbance or other signs of spinal cord compression,

3. Incapacitating nerve root pain despite conservative treatment for at least 4 weeks, and

4. Recurrent incapacitating pain despite conservative treatment.

1. Larequi-Lauber T, Vader JP, Burnand B, Brook RH, Kosecoff J, Sloutskis D, Fankhauser H, Berney J, de Tribolet N, Paccaud F. Appropriateness of indications for surgery of lumbar disc hernia and spinal stenosis. Spine. 1997 Jan 15;22(2):203-9.[Medline]