Aim: This study is aimed at assessing relief from back ache, leg pain and functional outcome in cases of simple discectomy for single level lumbar disc herniation and comparing it with functional outcome in similar studies of single level lumbar disc herniation with fusion techniques. Material and methods: This is a prospective study where 33 patients with single level lumbar disc herniation without spondylolisthesis underwent simple discectomy (SD) without instrumentation. Patients were assessed with Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Oswestry Disability (ODI) for back pain, leg pain and functional outcome. The scores were recorded preoperatively, postoperatively after 1 month and thereafter 1 year. VAS and ODI scores of patients from our study were compared with similar pain and functional outcome studies in two studies in literature of single level lumbar discectomy with instrumentation. Results: On statistical analysis of comparative data of our study and other studies in literature, we found that the simple discectomy group had statistically better outcome with respect to the instrumented group in back ache VAS scores and ODI in both post op 1 month and 1 year interval. Conclusions: Our study suggests that for single level prolapse intervertebral disc with no evidence of instability, functional outcome results and backache resolution are better with simple discectomy rather than with fusion. Additionally, simple discectomy reduces operative time, complications associated with implants and cost.

Lumbar Discectomy , Fusion, Disc herniation.