Table 1

Inclusion and Exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age between 18 and 60 years

  • Axial back pain with degenerative disc disease (DDD) or back pain with leg symptoms for patients with contained lumbar disc herniation (CLDH)

  • Symptoms unresponsive to at least six months of conservative management

  • Pre operative Visual analogue scale (VAS) score ≥5

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealing degenerate/symptomatic discs at not more than one level

  • Disc level to be intervened falls within Pfirrmann's grade 2-4

Exclusion Criteria

  • Back pain due to lumbosacral strain or facet arthritis

  • Workmen compensation patients

  • A clear history or MRI pointing towards acute disc prolapse/sequestrated disc

  • Previous lumbar spine surgery

  • Spondylolisthesis

  • Infection/Malignant spinal conditions

  • Instability/Cauda equina syndrome