Socioeconomic Implications of Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Narrative Review

Recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) is a common complication after discectomy, occurring in 2%-25% of patients and contributing to higher reoperation rates, reduced satisfaction, and substantial direct and indirect costs. This review evaluates the economic consequences of RLDH and the relative cost-effectiveness of available management strategies. A systematic search of OVID, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library was performed through August 2025. Peer-reviewed, English-language studies were included if they examined adults (≥18 years) with RLDH and reported economic data. Exclusion criteria were studies limited to primary, cervical, or thoracic herniations; animal or cadaveric models; and abstracts. Extracted variables included study design, sample size, follow-up duration, and cost components. Of 283 records identified, 220 were screened and 35 underwent full-text review. Six studies met inclusion criteria, with 2 added through citation searching. Reported costs varied considerably: repeat discectomy added $6,907 in one analysis, while fusion increased expenses by more than 350%. Across studies, repeat discectomy remained the most cost-efficient option, providing comparable outcomes with reduced perioperative expenditures. Conservative management had the lowest immediate direct costs (≈$2,300) but likely underestimates the overall burden due to unmeasured productivity losses. Annular closure devices demonstrated potential cost savings of $2,000-5,000 over 2-5 years. RLDH imposes a substantial economic burden. Heterogeneity in costing methods remains a major limitation which hinders evidence-based determinations. Greater transparency, methodological standardization, and incorporation of societal perspectives are essential to accurately assess the socioeconomic impact of RLDH.