In this retrospective study, we investigated the predictable & if possible avoidable causes of recurrent disc, with evaluation of available investigations & results of reoperation in a series of 32 patients who underwent a previous lumbar discectomy & were subjected to resurgery in the Neurosurgery Department, Cairo University, through the years 2003 & 2004, and we compared our results with that of the other published studies. We kept very strict to the definition of recurrent herniated lumbar disc as being the presence of herniated disc material at the same level of initial operation, ipsi- or contralateral, in a patient who has experienced a pain-free interval of at least 6 months following a previous discectomy surgery. All of these patients had had only one previous single level lumbar discectomy (posterior approach) also performed in our hospital. Thorough history taking , scored clinical examination &MRI or CT or X-ray imaging requirements were fulfilled. The study showed that the symptoms and signs of patients with recurrent disc herniation were not different from those with a primary disc herniation. Mainly sciatica, low back pain & back tenderness. The sensitivity of MR was found to be over 99 per cent – superior to CT- and this is the diagnostic tool recommended. It is widely accepted that the results after repeated surgery are comparable to those of the first intervention. The topic of recurrent disc herniation often includes spinal stenosis and comments about instability & these three entities clearly have potentiality for definable results in repeated surgery where co-existence of two discrete types of compressive lesions, recurrent disc & epidural fibrosis, predicted a high risk of bad outcome. There were no demonstrated effects from age at prior surgery, traumatic events, level of herniation, side of recurrence, period of conservative treatment, preoperative JOA score, and associated spinal stenosis, direction of recurrent disc herniation or dural tear on the recovery rate.