THE FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROME

The failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) portrays one of the major complications of neurological and orthopaedic surgery. This form includes incomplete recovery of the preoperative complaints together with unchanged, persistent, or even increased pain and/or neurological deficit following lumbar disc surgery. One has to distinguish between organic, psychological as well as social-economical aspects of FBSS. This paper deals mostly with the organic causes of FBSS and ways of how they could be recognised, treated, or even prevented. At the same time it should become obvious that in view of the possibility of FBSS, the correct indication for disc surgery plays a paramount role. Beside the scrupulous ascertaining of findings, one should consider the patient's social environment as well as psychological situation. In doing so, one would avoid FBSS from actually coming into being.