Journal of neurosurgery. Spine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Serum creatine phosphokinase activity and histological changes in the multifidus muscle: a prospective randomized controlled comparative study of discectomy with or without retraction.
The aim of this study was to determine the extent of muscle injury caused by continuous or intermittent muscle retraction during macro- and microdiscectomy in lumbar disc surgery. Pain scores, serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, and histological findings obtained in muscle specimens were compared. ⋯ In this prospective randomized clinical trial, the authors determined that muscle injury during lumbar disc surgery was closely related to muscle retraction and relaxation times whereas the size of the paravertebral skin incision had no effect on postoperative back pain and disability. There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of back pain during the long-term follow-up period (18-19 months).