Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem between men and women between 20 and 50. Although most LBP's exact origin remains unknown, it is understood that degenerative damage to the intervertebral disk (IVD) plays a central role in the pathogenic mechanism leading to back pain. The study aims to study the incidence, clinical features, and presentations of the lumbar disc prolapse and clinical outcome of lumbar microdiscectomy for a period of 1 year post operatively. Methods: 28 male's patient and 22 female patients qualified. The data were obtained by direct interrogation and clinical examination. The information that was taken from the patients includes the patient's age, gender, occupation, and chief complaint, history of present illness, and neurological signs and symptoms. Plain X-ray of the lumbosacral spine obtained for each patient in anteroposterior, lateral view and stress views. Results: 15 male patients (53.5%) and eight females (36.3%). The most common site for the prolapsed disc was L4-L5 (58%); the next common site was L5-S1 (38%), backache was the most common presenting symptoms. It presents in all 50 patients (100%). Sciatica present in 45 patients (90%), in 13 patients the radiation of the pain was to the right leg, whereas 26 patients have radiation of pain to the left leg and six patients have bilateral radiation, 45 patients (90%) of total 50 patients complaint from backache recovered,36 patients (86.7%) of real 45 patients compliant from sciatica improved, paresthesia represented in 32 patients (64%) and 28 patients (87.5%) of them recovered, whereas 16 patients (32%) had motor weakness and 12 patients (75%) recovered. Conclusion: Lumbar microdiscectomy may be associated with a more rapid initial recovery in patients with sciatica; most patients had good outcomes with lumbar microdiscectomy.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery is the predominant mode of therapy for patients with hydrocephalus. However, it has potential complications that may require multiple surgical procedures during a patient’s lifetime. The aim of the article was to review the experience in a 2-year teaching hospital and to evaluate the risk factors for PV shunt failure after initial shunt surgery and after subsequent reviews. Methods: The study was carried out at The Emergency Teaching Hospital in Duhok City in Iraq. All complications of VP shunted patients admitted to the hospital from January 2013 to January 2015, were included in the study. Forty six patients (out of 170 VP shunt operations), with all shunt related complications, qualified for this study. Identification of patients with complications of VP shunt is done by obtaining proper history, examination, and identification of ventricular enlargement with periventricular edema on imaging (brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance study (MRI); also, identification of any evidence of device migration by direct vision, chest and abdominal X-ray and evidence of infection on CSF analysis. Results: The incidence of the complications was (27.1%). There were 24 (52.2%) males and 22 (47.8%) females. Males were affected more than females with a ratio 1.1:1. Their age ranged from 2 months to 67 years, with mean age 8.6 years. The most common cause for the initial VP shunt implantation was congenital hydrocephalus and was noticed in 34 (73.9%) patients. Mean duration to develop VP shunt complication was 26.6 months. The most common presenting symptom in pediatric patients was decreased oral intake in 37 (80.4%) patients; however, in adult patients, it was headache, 4 (80%) patients. The most common complication was obstruction, 25 (54.3%) patients, followed by infection in 9 (19.6%) patients. The most common treatment option given to the patients who suffered from VP shunt complications was whole system change for a new one, in 15 (32.6%) patients. Conclusions: The findings of the study indicate that age of the patient at time of shunt placement, etiology of hydrocephalus, and previous treatments before shunt surgery were independently significantly associated with the shunt survival. Prospective controlled studies are required to address the observed associations between the risk factors and incidence of shunt revisions in these patients.