How common is paralysis caused by lumbar disc herniation?

Many patients with lumbar disc herniation develop hemiplegia; however, the high-level (i.e., upper lumbar) type of lumbar disc herniation is relatively rare, accounting for only about 10% of all lumbar disc herniation cases. Nevertheless, this subtype carries a significantly higher risk of paraplegia, making it particularly severe in terms of patient morbidity. Patients with this condition are best treated with prompt surgical intervention. Delaying surgery until paraplegia develops often results in difficult neurological recovery due to subacute compression-induced neural damage.