Motor Affliction of the L5 Nerve Root in Lumbar Nerve Root Compression Syndromes

The incidence of pronounced extensor hallucis longus paresis in lumbar nerve root compression varied between 5-11%. Recovery after surgery was common in disc herniation and lateral spinal stenosis but did not occur in central stenosis. Complete recovery was most common in disc herniation, and recovery occurred mainly during the first 4 months after surgery.