Zeitschrift für Wirbelsäulen- und Neurochirurgie

Prognoses of 42 Patients with Foot Drop caused by Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Pathologies

Albayrak S, Ucler N, Ayden O and Yucetas CS

Objective: This study was designed to assess the prognoses of different lumbar intervertebral disc pathologies on foot drop. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 42 consecutive patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery. These patients were identified from 995 subjects with lumbar degenerative conditions who scored between 0 and 2 on a manual muscle test of the tibialis anterior muscle. We examined motor recovery 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months, and 1 year after surgery, then annually thereafter. Results: The motor strength for dorsiflexion was 0/5 in 10 patients, 1/5 in 15 patients, and 2/5 in 17 patients. The mean period of muscle strength loss was 12 days. Comorbidities were also documented; 35 cases had progressive improvements and 5/5 muscle strength at the final follow-up without physical rehabilitation, and 7 patients with neurological deficits received physical rehabilitation. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that urinary incontinence, late admission to surgery, short follow-up, and sequestrated herniations are the poorest prognostic characteristics in patients with foot drop due to lumbar intervertebral disc pathologies.