[Lateral lumbar disk herniation].
A retrospective study of 41 lateral discal hernias observed between 1984 and 1991 were studied among the 1080 discal hernias treated during this period. CT scan, performed in all cases, distinguished several different types of hernia: foramen hernias (26), extraforamen hernias (12), mixed forms (5) associated with canal component (11). Thirteen disco scans were required. Nucleolysis was performed in 24 patients (58%) and surgical treatment was the first intention choice in 17 (41%). Outcome, evaluated with a function score developed in the unit were good in the 17 surgery cases (100%). In the nucleolysis patients results were good or excellent in 13, average in 4, and poor in 7. Five of the nucleolysis failures were later operated leading to good results in 3, average in 1 and no change in 1. Indications for surgery are more frequent in this type of discal hernia and results in our surgical series were better than those for chemonucleolysis.