Table 1.
Demographic and clinical data
| Characteristic | Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| N | 75 | 75 |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 38 | 37 |
| Female | 37 | 38 |
| Age (years) | ||
| Mean±SD | 47.2±9.1* | 48.5±10.5* |
| Range | 18–75 | 18–75 |
| BMI | 23.2±1.5* | 23.5±2.5* |
| Nucleus removed (ml) | 1.7±2.1* | 1.7±1.8* |
| Operated level | ||
| L4–L5 | 45 | 43 |
| L5–S1 | 20 | 21 |
| L3–L4 | 7 | 8 |
| L2–L3 | 3 | 3 |
| Preoperative VAS leg | 77±12.1* | 78.6±11.8* |
| Preoperative VAS back | 67.5±12.5* | 66.6±10.5* |
| Preoperative ODI | 64.5±20.1* | 66.6±21.8* |
Data are presented as mean±SD. *P>0.05, no statistically significant differences between the two groups. SD - Standard deviation; BMI - Body mass index; VAS - Visual Analog Scale; ODI - Oswestry Disability Index