{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T04:46:10Z","timestamp":1777092370668,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]],"date-time":"2026-04-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776729600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Adolescent lumbar disc herniation (ALDH) is rare. Evidence on long-term surgical outcomes remains limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate mid- and long-term clinical outcomes following lumbar microdiscectomy in adolescents with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: A single-institution retrospective cohort study of patients under 19 years who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy over a ten-year period. Baseline clinical and radiological data were obtained from electronic patient records (EPR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patient-reported outcomes were collected at follow-up using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) as the primary outcome and Numeric Rating Scales (NRS) for back and leg pain and Global Perceived Effect (GPE) as secondary outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize results. Results: Seventeen of 27 patients (63%) participated. Mean age at surgery was 16.9 years, and mean symptom duration prior to surgery was 11.3 months. All patients underwent disc-preserving microdiscectomy. At a mean follow-up of 67.7 months, mean ODI was 9.5, mean NRS back pain was 2.8, and mean NRS leg pain was 2.3. Fourteen patients (82%) reported being completely recovered or much improved. Conclusions: Lumbar microdiscectomy in adolescents with LDH showed acceptable mid- to long-term outcomes, low disability, and low pain levels at more than five years of follow-up. Clinical and imaging findings resembled those seen in adults, though symptom duration before surgery was prolonged.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children13040578","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T09:01:24Z","timestamp":1776848484000},"page":"578","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Mid- to Long-Term Clinical Outcomes After Lumbar Microdiscectomy in Adolescent Patients: A Descriptive Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-8727-8551","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lawrence","family":"Sanchez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, \u00c5lesund Hospital, 6017 \u00c5lesund, Norway"},{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 L\u00f8renskog, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Johanna Austeen","family":"Gjestland","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 L\u00f8renskog, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7674-1572","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Per-Henrik","family":"Randsborg","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 L\u00f8renskog, Norway"},{"name":"Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0839-9031","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ole Kristian","family":"Alhaug","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 L\u00f8renskog, Norway"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-024-08528-8","article-title":"Incidence of and risk factors for lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy in adults: A systematic review","volume":"34","author":"Kroismayr","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. Spine J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3713","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-023-07929-5","article-title":"The Norwegian registry for spine surgery (NORspine): Cohort profile","volume":"32","author":"Mikkelsen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. Spine J."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Solberg, T., Ingebrigtsen, T., Olsen, L.R., and Thyrhaug, A.M. (2024). \u00c5rsrapport for 2024: Nasjonalt Kvalitetsregister for Ryggkirurgi, Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge HF.","DOI":"10.7557\/7.8262"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.4103\/jcvjs.jcvjs_3_25","article-title":"Pediatric lumbar disc herniation: A systematic review of the state of management strategies and outcomes (2010\u20132024)","volume":"16","author":"Musa","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Craniovertebral Junction Spine"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E708","DOI":"10.1097\/BRS.0b013e31815a59a0","article-title":"Modified Pfirrmann Grading System for Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration","volume":"32","author":"Griffith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2940","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-200011150-00017","article-title":"The Oswestry Disability Index","volume":"25","author":"Fairbank","year":"2000","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1080\/16501970306094","article-title":"Cross-cultural adaptation of the Norwegian versions of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Oswestry Disability Index","volume":"35","author":"Grotle","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Rehabil. Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2009.12.027","article-title":"Assessment of spine surgery outcomes: Inconsistency of change amongst outcome measurements","volume":"10","author":"Copay","year":"2010","journal-title":"Spine J."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2004.09.012","article-title":"Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations","volume":"113","author":"Dworkin","year":"2005","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"760","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2009.09.009","article-title":"Global Perceived Effect scales provided reliable assessments of health transition in people with musculoskeletal disorders, but ratings are strongly influenced by current status","volume":"63","author":"Kamper","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Clin. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.3233\/BMR-160572","article-title":"Adolescent lumbar disc herniation: Impact, diagnosis, and treatment","volume":"30","author":"Karademir","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Back Musculoskelet. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"380","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2005.10.015","article-title":"Mid- to long-term outcome of disc excision in adolescent disc herniation","volume":"6","author":"Smorgick","year":"2006","journal-title":"Spine J."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1225","DOI":"10.1097\/BRS.0000000000005165","article-title":"Comparison of Oswestry Disability Index Scores Between Surgical Candidates and General Population: Insights into Evaluation Criteria for Spine Surgery","volume":"50","author":"Bansal","year":"2025","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2650","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-017-5185-5","article-title":"Criteria for failure and worsening after surgery for lumbar disc herniation: A multicenter observational study based on data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery","volume":"26","author":"Werner","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. Spine J."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0034-1386750","article-title":"Microdiscectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: An evaluation of reoperations and long-term outcomes","volume":"5","author":"Aichmair","year":"2014","journal-title":"Evid.-Based Spine-Care J."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"759","DOI":"10.3171\/2020.8.SPINE20602","article-title":"Association of extended duration of sciatic leg pain with worse outcome after lumbar disc herniation surgery: A register study in 6216 patients","volume":"34","author":"Beck","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg. Spine"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1415","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clineuro.2013.01.019","article-title":"Adolescent lumbar disc herniation: Experience from a large minimally invasive treatment centre for lumbar degenerative disease in Chongqing, China","volume":"115","author":"Wang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Neurol. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-009-1202-7","article-title":"A review of current treatment for lumbar disc herniation in children and adolescents","volume":"19","author":"Dang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur. Spine J."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Loubeyre, E., Terrier, L.M., Cognacq, G., Aggad, M., Francois, P., Odent, T., and Amelot, A. (2024). Surgical management of herniated intervertebral disc in children. Neurochirurgie, 70.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuchi.2024.101593"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pojskic, M., Bisson, E., Oertel, J., Takami, T., Zygourakis, C., and Costa, F. (2024). Lumbar disc herniation: Epidemiology, clinical and radiologic diagnosis. WFNS spine committee recommendations. World Neurosurg. X, 22.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wnsx.2024.100279"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.1007\/s007010070037","article-title":"Histological study of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in adolescents","volume":"142","author":"Lee","year":"2000","journal-title":"Acta Neurochir."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"681","DOI":"10.1097\/01.brs.0000257523.38337.96","article-title":"Disc Degeneration in Low Back Pain: A 17-Year Follow-up Study Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging","volume":"32","author":"Waris","year":"2007","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Bakken, A. (2019). Idrettens Posisjon i Ungdomstida: Hvem Deltar og Hvem Slutter i Ungdomsidretten?, Norsk Institutt for Forskning om Oppvekst, Velferd og Aldring. NOVA Rapport 2\/2019."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1080\/02688699746041","article-title":"Lumbar disc herniations in children: A long-term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up study","volume":"11","author":"Luukkonen","year":"1997","journal-title":"Br. J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.1097\/00005650-199902000-00003","article-title":"The PedsQL: Measurement model for the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory","volume":"37","author":"Varni","year":"1999","journal-title":"Med. Care"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1097\/BPO.0000000000000847","article-title":"Use of patient-reported outcome measures in pediatric orthopaedic literature","volume":"38","author":"Phillips","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Orthop."}],"container-title":["Children"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/13\/4\/578\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T04:20:32Z","timestamp":1777090832000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/13\/4\/578"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["children13040578"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/children13040578","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2227-9067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,21]]}}}