The Effect of The Duration of Radiculopathy in The Improvement of The Bothersome Sensory Deficit after Single Level Lumber Micro-Discectomy Surgery in Young and Middle Age Population in Babylon Governorate in Iraq

Background: Pain and sensory abnormalities are the most common abnormalities which could present after lumber disc herniation. However, Recovery of the sensory deficit after decompressive surgery is not clearly defined.
Objective: The aim of the current study is to evaluate factors which influence sensory recovery in 12 months after micro-decompression surgery.
Patients and methods: This prospective study included 82 patients who subjected to micro-discectomy of lumbar spine in single private hospital in Iraq. We included young and middle age population between 19 and 54 years old and patients who had sensory abnormalities preoperatively and followed up for 12 months postoperatively.
Results: Using ROC curve to analyse relationship between age and presence of sensory deficit, there were a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 42%. The AUC revealed 0.610 which gives 60% chance to consider the criterion age 37 years in which it might be associated with the worse possible outcome. Using ROC curve to analyse the relationship between duration of radiculopathy and presence of sensory deficit, there was a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 51%. The AUC revealed 0.575 which gives 50% chance to consider the criterion duration of more than 300 days in which it might associate with the worse possible outcome.
Conclusion: Sensory improvement after micro-decompression surgery needs to be considered with other factors. However, the shorter duration of compression the better the time needed for the nerve to recover. A cut-off value of fewer than 300 days duration of radiculopathy and age less than 37 years old might be considered.