OBJECTIVES: To describe the disease management and the cost of patients presenting a diagnosis of lumbago-sciatica in the hospital perspective. METHODS:   We performed a local data base request from the medical information system (PMSI) of the university hospital of Montpellier. We considered 3 consecutive years (2006,2007,2008) which allow us to get a follow-up and a traceability of patients over this period. We analyzed a group of 18-50 years old patients admitted across acute care, day care or mid-term care sectors with the diagnosis code M 511 of the ICD-10. Distribution of DRG's was also analyzed and a weighed calculation was performed for the cost per patient in acute care sector. RESULTS: A total of 503 patients were selected over the period representing a total of 598 admissions (i.e.: 1.18 admissions per patient). The mean ± SD age was 39.2 ± 7.4 years and female represent 42% of the patients. We observed 488 admissions in acute care ("less than 24 h" admissions excluded) with a mean length of stay of 6.4 ± 4 days. Day-care represents 4.8% of the admission in acute care sector. We observed 5 admissions in mid-term care and few patients (0.6 %) were admitted consecutively in acute care and in mid term care thereafter. 418 patients underwent surgery during their stay in acute care sector. The cost is estimated at 3,751 euros per patient admitted in acute care sector. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of patient, surgery is the main pattern of care and the main driver of cost. Innovative medical device would minimize the burden of disease by reducing or delaying the number of surgeries. Nevertheless, additional information from the ambulatory care sector would be useful to describe the complete lumbago-sciatica management and to define the medical need for innovations in this active patient population.