Clinical results and data were obtained by phone calls and chart reviews from 69 patients who were conservatively treated and diagnosed as herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (HIVD) by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from Aug. 1989 to June 1992.

Clinical results were evaluated by Stauffer's criteria for clinical result. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the clinical factors that influence clinical results and effectiveness of conservative treatment for lumbar HIVD. The results were as follows:

The clinical result of 69 patients treated conservatively was excellent 14 cases (20.3%), good 45 cases (65%), fair 6 cases (8.7%) and poor 4 cases (5.8%) respectively. MRI classification of HIVD by severity was bulging disc 16 cases (23.2%), protruded disc 28 cases (40.6%), extruded disc 17 cases (24.6%) and sequestered disc 8 cases (11.6%) respectively. This study showed the favorable outcome of back exercise group (85.3%). There was correlation between the clinical result and occupation. The cause and severity of HIVD, the number herniated discs and degenerated discs were not showed any correlation with the clinical result of HIVD. There was no correlation between the clinical result and life style factors (smoking, obesity and driving). Education, economic status were not showed any correlation with the clinical result of HIVD.