May 5, 2010
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in the U.S. for patients experiencing back and leg pain. An incidental durotomy (unintentional breach of the dural covering of the spinal cord and nerve roots) is one of the most frequent complications during lumbar discectomy and is the subject of a significant number of malpractice lawsuits. “The effect of durotomy on long-term patient outcome, however, remains controversial. This study was undertaken to examine whether the occurrence of incidental durotomy during surgery impacts long-term clinical outcome,” stated Atman Desai, MD, lead author of the study…more