The extent of temperature sense and pain appreciation recovery in the dermatomes of the cauda equina roots after surgery for lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.

Temperature sense and pain appreciation in the dermatomes of the cauda equina roots were estimated in patients with lumbar intervertebral disk hernias before surgery, as well as immediately and long after surgery for disk herniation. Before surgery, the temperature sense and pain appreciation were impaired not only in the dermatome of the compressed root, but also in the dermatomes located proximal and distal to it. The temperature sense was impaired more severely. The recovery of the temperature sense and pain appreciation in the dermatomes of the cauda equina roots after surgery is limited, especially in the region innervated by the compressed root. Positive changes in temperature sense and pain appreciation in different zones examined soon after surgery were observed, on average, in 55% of cases, whereas delayed positive changes were detected only in 36% of the patients. Pain appreciation (in tests with heat pain) both immediately and long after surgery was improved to a higher degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]