Abstract:Aim: To assess the effect of treatment of lumbar disc herniation using chemonucleolysis, a one to three years follow-up review was conducted. Method: 360 cases were divided into three groups (1 year, 2 years, 3 years group), each group involving 120 cases. The curative effects of all patients were evaluated by inquiry and physical examination. According to the change of straight leg-raising grade, spine moving grade, sensation, muscle strength and VAS pain scoring, a standard of curative effect gauged were established. The curative effect was expressed as cure and excellent rate. Result: The postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than preoperative level in three groups, the average of VAS score was decreased from 6.92 to 0.99. The cure and excellent rate of 1 to 3 years groups were 72.5%, 87.5%; 75.0%, 88.3% and 79.2%, 90.0% respectively. There is a tendency of increase in success rate along with time. Conclusion: The extra-disc injection of collagenase from anterior epidural space via hiatus sacralis is an effective method for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.