Editors
NEJM Journal Watch
Diskectomy improves leg pain better than nonsurgical care in patients with chronic sciatica caused by lumbar disk herniation, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study.
Nearly 130 patients with sciatica lasting 4 to 12 months were randomized to undergo microdiscectomy or standardized nonoperative care (followed by surgery as needed). At 6 months, mean leg pain scores had decreased more in the surgery group than in the nonsurgical group (adjusted between-groups difference, 2.4 points on a 10-point scale).