After percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), postoperative radiating leg pain could persist and become a common problem. This symptom provides important information for use in deciding on performance of reoperation for remnant disc or recurrent disc herniation. Of 225 patients who underwent PELD, 51 patients had persistent radicular pain. Steroid injection to epidural space resulted in pain reduction of at least 50 % in 15 (30.3 %) of these patients. Thirty five cases showed a bad outcome after steroid injection, indicating high sensitivity for detection of a remnant or disc herniation in follow up Magnetic Resonance images (25 cases, 71.4%). Twenty one patients were treated by reoperation. Steroid injection has a diagnostic value with a high sensitivity for mechanical compression of the nerve root as remaining or recurrent disc herniation in MRI for the necessity of a re-operation.

• 주창일(조선대학교 의학전문대학원 신경외과학교실) | Chang Il Ju Corresponding Author
• 김병욱(조선대학교 의학전문대학원 신경외과학교실) | Byoung Wook Kim
• 하상우(조선대학교 의학전문대학원 신경외과학교실) | Sang Woo Ha
• 장근수(조선대학교 의학전문대학원 신경외과학교실) | Keun Su Jang