Table 1.

Patient demographics and preoperative MRI findings (n=34)

Demographic data	Values
Age (years)	38 (range 24–51)
Male/female	14/20
Levels operated
L3–4	2
L4–5	25
L5–6a	2
L3–4, L4–5	4
L4–5, L5–6	1
Symptomatologyb
Back pain only or predominantc	27
Back pain/leg pain equivalent	7
Leg pain only or predominantd	0
VAS	7.6 (range 5–10)
ODI	25.2 (range 18–36)
MRI findings of treated disks
Inhomogenous gray signale	31
Slightly decreased disk heighte	15
Annular fissuref	26
Foraminal compromiseg	19
Follow-up (months)	Mean 39 (range 36–48)

Notes:

^aPresence of a sixth lumbar vertebra with intact lamina and spinous process;

^bBack pain or leg pain predominance was based on every patient’s own perception of the locations of pain;

^cBack pain/leg pain ratios were 100/0 in 6, 90/10 in 7, 80/20 in 6, 70/30 in 8 patients;

^dLeg pain as the only or major symptom;

^eCompatible with grade III disk degeneration based on Pfirrmann’s MR classification (17);

^fHyperintense signal within the posterior annulus fibrosus, shown on T2-weighted MR images;

^gAssociated with annular bulging without protrusion or extrusion of nucleus pulposus.

Abbreviations: VAS, visual analog scale; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; MR, magnetic resonance; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.