LAUSR

AIM To investigate the effects of a lumbar exercise program after single-level lumbar microdiscectomy on recurrent lumbar disc diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 2018 and 2021, 223 patients (104 women, 119 men, median age: 49 years) receiving their first corrective surgery for lumbar disk herniation were enrolled in this study. Their clinical status was evaluated before surgery, early post-surgery, and 6-months after surgery using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Two patients were grouped into two: Group A (n = 124) included those who regularly participated in the physical therapy and rehabilitation program for 6 months during the postoperative period, and Group B (n = 99) included those who did not regularly or at all participate in physical therapy and rehabilitation programs during the postoperative period. Their compliance to the 6-month physical therapy program that was started in our clinic in the 1st postoperative month and its relation to recurrent lumbar disc hernia at the same level was evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Group A included 124 patients and Group B included 99 patients. In Group B, 82 patients showed irregular compliance to the physical therapy program and 17 patients did not participate in the physical therapy program. During the 6-month follow-up period, 27 patients developed recurrent disc hernia at the same level (Group A, 9; Group B, 18 patients) and they accordingly underwent repeat microdiscectomy surgery Conclusion: Compliance with the postoperative physical therapy program after single-level lumbar microdiscectomy is one of the factors that prevented recurrent disc hernia during the early postoperative period.