Table 1. Baseline patient characteristics.
Values are mean ± standard deviation (minimum, maximum) for continuous variables and % (n / N) for categorical variables.
| Characteristic | Value |
| Age (years) | 41 ± 13 (18, 75) |
| Male sex | 60% (33/55) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 29 ± 4 (18, 37) |
| Smoking history | 44% (24/55) |
| Level of herniation | |
| L4/L5 | 49% (27/55) |
| L5/S1 | 51% (28/55) |
| Herniation type | |
| Contained | 56% (31/55) |
| Extruded | 42% (23/55) |
| Sequestered | 2% (1/55) |
| Annular defect width (mm) | |
| 6 | 7% (4/55) |
| 7 | 20% (11/55) |
| 8 | 22% (12/55) |
| 9 | 22% (12/55) |
| 10 | 29% (16/55) |
| Leg pain severity | 83 ± 14 (49, 100) |
| Oswestry Disability Index | 58 ± 15 (40, 94) |