Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is among the leading causes of musculoskeletal disability worldwide. Surgical intervention is commonly indicated when conservative management fails to provide adequate relief. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) are well-validated tools for quantifying pain intensity and functional disability in such patients, yet comparative preoperative and postoperative data from South Asian clinical settings remain scarce. This study aimed to compare preoperative and postoperative pain (VAS) and disability (ODI) scores in patients with lumbar disc herniation managed surgically at a tertiary care center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: This retrospective comparative observational study included 60 patients with LDH who underwent surgical intervention at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between October 2024 and April 2026. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, surgical details and postoperative outcomes were extracted from medical records. VAS and ODI scores were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 and paired samples t-tests were applied to compare pre- and postoperative outcomes. Results: The mean age was 42.7 ± 13.09 years, with a male predominance (63.3%). L4 - L5 was the most commonly affected level (58.3%). The mean preoperative VAS score was 8.73 ± 0.44, which declined significantly to 3.75 ± 0.72 postoperatively and further to 1.73 ± 0.86 at follow-up. ODI scores improved from 60.55 ± 8.18 preoperatively to 18.00 ± 5.21 at final follow up (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Excellent or good patient satisfaction was reported in 96.7% of cases. Symptomatic recurrence and reoperation each occurred in one patient (1.7%). Conclusion: Surgical management of LDH produced significant and sustained reductions in both pain intensity and functional disability. These findings support the effectiveness of discectomy-based procedures in this clinical population.
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