Neurosurgery
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While acute disc herniation-induced radiculopathy most frequently resolves without clinical sequelae, a fraction of patients experience long-term sensory dysfunction. This study examined chronic sensitivity of the rodent hind paw following resolution of acute inflammatory neuropathy. ⋯ Noncompressive disc herniation sensitizes the sciatic nerve distribution in this animal model, despite resolution of acute intraneural macrophage migration. The demonstrated role of TRPV1 may explain how acute inflammatory pain transforms into chronic neuropathic pain. Decreasing TRPV1 expression may prevent the development of the long-term painful phenotype.