In a prospective, consecutive study 93 patients who had had previous lumbar spinal surgery underwent repeat decompression for persistent or recurrent back and leg pain. The previous operations had been discectomies in 65 patients and decompression for spinal stenosis in 28; two of the latter group had also had posterolateral fusion. At the repeat operation, disc herniation was found in 19 patients, lateral spinal stenosis in 19, central spinal stenosis in 20 and periradicular fibrosis in 35. Ninety-one patients were followed up for two years after surgery; the effect of the operation was recorded using a four-scale grading system. The results were significantly related to the diagnosis. Nerve-root compression due to recurrent disc herniation or to bony compression responded well to repeat decompression. In patients with a single nerve-root compression the results were similar to those obtained in primary operations. Sciatica due to nerve-root scarring was seldom improved by the repeat operation.

In a prospective, consecutive study we determined the frequency of common symptoms and signs in 300 patients with lumbar nerve-root compression syndromes. We compared 100 patients with disc herniation (mean age 43 years), 100 with lataral spinal stenosis (41 years) and 100 with central spinal stenosis (65 years), using a standard protocol of common signs and symptoms. The diagnoses were established by one or more of myelography, CT, MRI and nerve-root block, and all were confirmed at operation. The preoperative duration of symptoms was significantly shorter in patients with disc herniation. Pain at rest, at night, and on coughing was as common in lateral stenosis as in disc herniation, but regular consumption of analgesics was more common in patients with disc herniation. Positive straight-leg-raising tests were more common in disc herniation than in lateral stenosis and were uncommon in central stenosis. Motor disturbances were seen most often in central spinal stenosis, especially patellar reflex changes. Sensory disturbances were most common in patients with complete disc herniation.

We have investigated the level of physical activity of 49 women between the ages of 15 and 45 years who sustained a fracture of the neck of the femur at between 60 and 70 years of age, and compared this with the level of activity reported by 49 control subjects without fracture, who were matched for age and social status. We found that the patients had been significantly less physically active than the controls, especially as regards household duties and professional working conditions.