Preparation for Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Disk Disease in Children

Indications for Procedure

• Cauda equina syndrome: The clinical diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome is a surgical emergency and patients should undergo immediate intervention.
• Neurological deficits: Surgery may be indicated for progressive or severe neurological deficits upon presentation.
• Radicular pain: Refractory radicular pain after conservative therapy for at least 6–8 weeks is a relative indication, and surgery can be used as a treatment in place of continued conservative management.

Preoperative Orders

• No special orders are required.

Anesthetic Considerations

• No special anesthetic considerations are required.

Devices to Be Implanted

• Devices are typically not implanted.

Ancillary/Specialized Equipment

• Intraoperative x-ray: Fluoroscopy or lateral x-rays are typically required to localize the surgical level. Microscopy should be available for the microdissection and diskectomy components of surgery.