Abstract: Objective To study the characteristic of multi-level lumbar disc protrusion treatment. Methods 68 patients who suffered from multi-level lumbar disc protrusion were reviewed retrospectively from Jan 2002 to Jun 2010. male: 42, femaie: 26.age: 30~78,average: 51±12, history: 1~15 years, average: 3±1 years.58 patients(33 patients, 68 discs) accept posterior disectomy(double side: 7, single side: 26); 25 patients with 54 disc underwent spinal fusion; 10 patients 20 discs underwent artificial disc replacement. Results All patients were followed up for 1 to 9 years(mean 46 months). The average preoperative JOA was 9.6±2.0(range: 6 to 17), while postoperative JOA was 24±2.0(range: 20 to 29). The Chi-square test, Z=-7.276, P<0.01, indicate the significant difference. The average preoperative VAS was 8.2±1.0(range: 6 to 10), while postoperative VAS was 1.4±1.0(range: 0 to 2). The Chi-square test, Z=-7.210, P<0.01, indicate the significant difference. Conclusion To define the "pain-relative disc" take important role in multi-level lumbar disc protrusion treatment, and discography take an important role in operative segmental selection in multi-level lumbar disc protrusion.

Key words: lumbar vertebrae, intervertebral disc, multi-level disc, degeneration, discography