Objective: The aim of this study was to compare preoperative and postoperative findings of the sciatic nerve by using B-mode ultrasound, strain elastography (SE), and shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients with unilateral lumbar foraminal disc herniation.
Patients and methods: In this prospective study group, patients with complaints of foraminal disc herniation due to one level (L4-5 or L5-S1) were included. Preoperative and postoperative (one month after surgery) B-mode ultrasound, SE, and SWE findings of the affected sciatic nerve in patients who underwent unilateral spinal decompression surgery were compared. Evaluations were performed on the axial plane from the gluteal region using a convex probe of 5-9L MHz. The reference method used to assess nerve root compression was 1.5-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Results: A total of 20 patients (9 males, 11 females) with a mean age of 46.2±13.1 years were included. The cross-sectional area (CSA), diameter, SWE values of the sciatic nerve were significantly higher in the affected side compared to those of the non-affected side (all for p<0.05). Blue and blue-green were the most common color codes in the affected side while green and green-yellow-red were the most common color codes in the non-affected side. The CSA, diameter, and SWE values of the sciatic nerve decreased after the surgery in the affected side (all for p<0.05), nonetheless. those did not differ in the non-affected side (all for p>0.05).
Conclusions: Lumbar decompression surgery decreases the sciatic nerve diameter, CSA, and stiffness of the sciatic nerve.