Original paper
Evaluation of coexisting spine degeneration impact on the outcome of conservative therapy of patients with low back pain and sciatica during the course of a lumbar disc herniated

The aim of the study was an attempt of evaluation of the influence of coexisting severe degenerative changes on therapeutic effects of treatment in patients with low back pain and sciatica related to lumbar intervertebral disc hernias. The results of treatment of 331 patients divided into groups depending on the grade of development of the degenerative changes, were examined. Generally the patients evaluated the therapeutic results themselves, using a visual analogous scale (VAS), and defined separately the grade of pain intensity (according to a 4-grade scale), motor weakness (according to a 3-grade scale) and range of lumbar spine movements (according to a 3-grade scale). In general, the therapeutic effects evaluated by patients were comparable and unrelated to the grade of coexisting degenerative vertebral changes. In the doctor’s detailed assessment related to pain intensity, motor weakness and range of lumbar spine movements the difference of therapeutic results were not statistically significant in the selected groups of patients. According to both subjective and objective assessments of the conservative therapeutic effects of patients with lumbar intervertebral disc hernias, coexisting severe spine degenerations, do not deteriorate significantly the treatment’s result.