| Status | Topic selection |
| Technology type | Procedure |
| Decision | Further information required |
| Reason for decision | Monitor - awaiting publication of further literature or evidence |
| ID number | 73 |
| Description | Lumbar disc herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc protrudes through a tear in the surrounding annulus fibrosus. Symptoms include pain in the back, pain in the leg (sciatica), and numbness or weakness in the leg. Serious neurological sequelae may sometimes occur. Conservative treatments include analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, manual therapy and acupuncture. Epidural corticosteroid injections can also be used to reduce nerve pain in the short term. Lumbar discectomy is considered if there is evidence of severe nerve compression or persistent symptoms that are unresponsive to conservative treatment. Surgical techniques include open discectomy or less invasive alternatives using percutaneous approaches. |
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Timeline
Key events during the development of the guidance:
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 01 September 2022 | Topic selection. On monitor |
For further information on how we select topics for development, please see our page about topic selection