The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the results of urgent lumbar surgery performed due to severe neurologic deficit. Eight patients underwent urgent lumbar surgery: 7 patients underwent surgery less than 12 hours from the onset of the symptoms. One patient was operated on less than 24 hours from symptoms initiation. 6 Pts. had Cauda Equina Syndrome, 2 pts. had radicular deficiency presented with drop foot. All patients underwent lumbar decompression. The patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Mean follow up was 3 years and 8 months. 5 of the 6 that had Cauda Equina Syn (CER). had complete neurological recovery. One patient had no improvement. The cause of the CER was undifferentiated carcinoma. The two patients operated on because of drop foot had no improvement. Our results confirmed the good outcome of early intervention in patients having CER due to disc herniation No improvement was seen following surgery due to nerve root paresis.
