Table 1

Macnab Criteria (Macnab I. “negative disc exploration: an analysis of the cause of nerve root involvement in sixtyeight patients.” J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 1971 ;53:891-903).

  • Excellent: No pain; no restriction of activity.

  • Good: Occasional back or leg pain of sufficient severity to interfere with the patient’s ability to do his normal work or his capacity to enjoy himself in his leisure hours.

  • Fair: Improved functional capacity, but handicapped by intermittent pain of sufficient severity to curtail or modify work or leisure activities.

  • Poor: No improvement or insufficient improvement to enable increase in activities; further operative intervention required.