Objective To investigate the effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy (UBED), percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), and traditional fenestration discectomy (FD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods The clinical data of 347 LDH patients who met the selection criteria and underwent discectomy between January 2017 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into FD group (160 cases), PELD group (86 cases), and UBED group (101 cases) according to operation methods. There was no significant difference in gender, age, surgical level distribution, disease duration, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) between groups (P>0.05). The operation time, hospitalization stay, treatment cost, and incidence of surgery-related complications were recorded and compared between groups. The patients’ pain and functional recovery were evaluated by VAS score and ODI before and after operation. Results The operation time of FD group was significantly shorter than that of PELD group and UBED group, and the hospitalization stay was significantly longer than that of PELD group and UBED group (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between PELD group and UBED group (P>0.05). The treatment cost in UBED group was significantly higher than that in PELD group, and in PELD group than in FD group (P<0.05). All the patients were followed up 6-24 months, with an average of 14.6 months. VAS score of lower extremity and ODI in 3 groups significantly improved after operation when compared with that before operation (P<0.05). At 1 day after operation, VAS score of lower extremity of UBED group was significantly better than that in PELD group and FD group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between PELD group and FD group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS scores of lower extremity between the 3 groups at 1 and 3 months after operation (P>0.05). The difference of ODI before and after operation in FD group and UBED group was slightly better than that in PELD group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between FD group and UBED group (P>0.05). Incidence of surgery-related complications in FD group (20.0%) was significantly higher than that in PELD group (12.8%) and UBED group (6.9%), and PELD group was significantly higher than UBED group (P<0.05). All the incision infection occurred in FD group (12 cases), symptomatic disc cyst and myeloid hypertension-like occurred in 1 case each in PELD group.Conclusion UBED, PELD, and FD have similar effectiveness on lower extremity pain in early LDH. Compared with FD, UBED and PELD have the advantage of shorter hospitalization stay and fewer complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and effectiveness analysis of different approaches of transforaminal endoscope on extirpation amount of nuclues pulposus.MethodsBetween August 2011 and December 2014, a total of 165 patients with lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively enrolled and were treated with nucleus pulposus discectomy through transforaminal endoscope. The patients were randomly divided into 4 groups according to different approach of transforaminal endoscope. The posterolateral approach (Yeung’s technology) was used in group A (42 cases), transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technology was used in group B (40 cases), improved transforaminal endoscopic access (ITEA) technology was used in group C (43 cases), and interlaminar approach (40 cases) was used in group D (40 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, symptomatic side, and segments among 4 groups (P>0.05). The extirpation amount of nuclues pulposus was calculated and compared among 4 groups; the effectiveness was evaluated by pre- and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), lumbar curvature index (LCI), and intervertebral height.ResultsThe discectomy amount of nucleus pulposus was (3.7±0.8), (3.6±0.7), (4.5±1.1), and (3.0±0.8) cm3 in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The amount of group C was significantly larger than that of the other 3 groups (P<0.05), and the amount of group D was significantly smaller than that of the other 3 groups (P<0.05); no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P>0.05). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage was found in 1 case; no other postoperative complications including intervertebral space infection and epidural hematoma was found. All the incisions healed by first intension. All the patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 18 months), and no typical symptoms of recurrence was found during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in preoperative lower back pain VAS score, lower extremities VAS score, and ODI scores among 4 groups (P>0.05). The above scores at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones in each group (P<0.05), but no significant difference of above scores and recovery values was found among 4 groups (P>0.05). The difference in LCI and intervertebral height at preoperation and at last follow-up were not significant between 4 groups (P>0.05). The difference in LCI and intervertebral height of each group between at preoperation and last follow-up were not significant (P>0.05). And the recovery value of LCI and the lost of height at last follow-up also showed no significant differences between 4 groups (P>0.05).ConclusionThe ITEA technology can give a wider field of view than other technologies. It is more convenient to find and remove the nucleus pulposus. However, the appropriate operative approaches should be chosen according to the symptoms and characteristics of lumbar disc herniation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference between four transforaminal endoscopic approaches in the treatment of serious lumbar disc herniation.MethodsBetween October 2010 and February 2015, a total of 122 patients with serious lumbar disc herniation were enrolled and treated with discectomy under transforaminal endoscope. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the different approaches. The transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technology was used in group A (31 cases), Yeung endoscopic spine system (YESS) technology was used in group B (30 cases), improved transforaminal endoscopic access (ITEA) technology was used in group C (31 cases), and interlaminar dorsal access (IDA) technology was used in group D (30 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, lesion segment, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score of low back pain, VAS score of bilateral lower extremities pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), intervertebral height, lumbar curvature index (LCI), and disc degeneration grading between groups (P>0.05). The removal volume of nucleus pulposus was compared; after operation, VAS score, ODI score, LCI, intervertebral height, and disc degeneration grading were used to evaluate the effectiveness.ResultsThe removal volumes of nucleus pulposus in groups A, B, C, and D were (3.6±0.9), (3.5±0.7), (4.6±1.0), (3.1±1.1) cm3, respectively. There were significant differences between groups (P<0.05). All incisions healed by first intention, and no early postoperative complications was found. All cases were followed up 12-35 months, with an average of 24 months. During follow-up, there was no recurrence of nucleus pulposus herniation, infection of intervertebral space, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, epidural hematoma, or other complications. At last follow-up, the VAS scores of low back pain and bilateral lower extremities pain, and ODI scores in each group significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the scores and improvements between groups after operation (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the disc degeneration grading in group B significantly improved when compared with that before operation (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in LCI of each group when compared with that before operation (P>0.05); and there was no significant difference in LCI and loss value between groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the intervertebral height of the 4 groups at immediate after operation and last follow-up when compared with preoperative value (P>0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups at immediate after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionApplication of transforaminal endoscope in the treatment of serious lumbar disc herniation has great clinical outcomes. The ITEA technology can obtain a wider field of view and be more convenient to find and remove the degenerative nucleus pulposus. However, the appropriate approach should be selected according to the symptoms and characteristics of lumbar disc herniation.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Quadrant retractor for the treatment of recurrent lumbar disc protrusion. Methods Between July 2008 and March 2010, 18 cases of recurrent lumbar disc protrusion were treated with Quadrant. There were 13 males and 5 females with an average age of 43 years (range, 35-67 years). Involved segments includedL4, 5 in 6 cases and L5, S1 in 12 cases. The time between first operation and recurrence was 12-120 months (mean, 42.8 months). Before operation, radiological evaluation including X-ray, CT, and MRI were performed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score and modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Results The operation time was 40-80 minutes (mean, 60 minutes), and the amount of blood loss was 80-120 mL (mean, 100 mL). All operations were performed successfully, and no compl ication of infection and nerve injury occurred. Incisions healed by first intention. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 2 cases and was cured at 3 days after operation by removal of drainage. Eighteen patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 22 months). The VAS score of leg pain was decreased from 7.3 ± 2.2 preoperatively to 2.0 ± 1.3 at the final follow-up, showing significant difference (t=11.08, P=0.00). According to modified MacNab criteria, the results were excellent in 12 patients and good in 6 patients. No recurrence was found during follow-up. Conclusion Discectomy via Quadrant retractor is a safe and effective minimally invasive surgical technique in treating recurrent lumbar disc protrusion.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effect of three different ways of annulus fibrosus incision on the biomechanical strength of intervertebral disc. MethodsA total of 30 goats underwent intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus extraction at L3, 4 and L4, 5 by the working channel in group A (n=10), by circular incision in group B (n=10), and by square incision in group C (n=10). The body weight, male and female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time were recorded and compared among 3 groups. The survival rate and wound healing situation were observed after operation. At 24 weeks after operation, the goats were sacrificed, MRI images were taken to observe the signal intensity of nucleus pulposus. The disc height of L3, 4 and L4, 5 was measured to calculate the loss of disc height; biomechanical test was used to assess the strength of the disc and anulus. Histological staining was also conducted to observe the repair effect at L4, 5. ResultsThere was no significant difference in body weight, male to female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time among groups (P>0.05). All goats survived to the end of the experiment. MRI examination showed decreased signal intensity in 3 groups, indicating intervertebral disc degeneration. According to modified Thompson classification method, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P>0.05). Difference was not significant in intervertebral space height before operation among 3 groups (P>0.05). But after 24 weeks, the intervertebral space height in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), and the intervertebral space height loss in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). The biomechanical strength in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group B and group C (P>0.05). HE and Masson staining showed good continuity of annulus fibrosus and clear layers in group A; poor continuity of annulus fibrosus and obvious scar tissues were observed in groups B and C. ConclusionApplication of working channel may have less destruction of annulus fibrosus, it plays a positive role in the maintenance of biomechanical strength and repair of annulus fibrosus.
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of unilateral biportal endoscopy discectomy (UBED) versus percutaneous uniportal endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) for the treatment of single lumbar disc herniation (sLDH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 patients with sLDH who underwent UBED or PEID at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2022 and June 2023. Surgical parameters, clinical outcomes, and imaging indicators were compared between the two groups. For normally distributed quantitative data, mean ± standard deviation was used for representation, while for non-normally distributed data, median (lower quartile, upper quartile) was used for representation. Results No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of gender, age, disease duration, affected segments, preoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores for low back and leg pain, preoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, preoperative disc height ratio (DHR), or preoperative sagittal rotation angle (SRA) (P>0.05). All patients successfully underwent surgery. In the UBED group, one case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and one case of pseudomeningocele syndrome occurred postoperatively. In the PEID group, two cases of pseudomeningocele syndrome occurred postoperatively, and one case of recurrence was observed 1.5 years after surgery. Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS scores for low back and leg pain and ODI scores postoperatively and during follow-up compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Significant differences were found between the UBED and PEID groups in terms of operation time [(138.3±28.0) vs. (113.5±34.2) min], intraoperative blood loss [(58.6±24.4) vs. (45.7±20.3) mL], postoperative drainage volume [(48.7±16.9) vs. (30.0±13.4) mL], postoperative ambulation time [3.4 (3.0, 4.0) vs. 2.3 (2.0, 3.0) d], and VAS scores for low back pain on postoperative Day 1 (2.87±0.55 vs. 2.24±0.65) (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, VAS scores for leg pain on postoperative Day 1, VAS scores for low back and leg pain 6 months and 1 year after operation, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complication rates, ODI scores 1 year after operation, DHR 1 year after operation, SRA 1 year after operation, or MacNab evaluation 1 year after operation (P>0.05). Conclusions Both UBED and PEID are safe and effective treatments for sLDH, with similar complication rates and clinical outcomes. However, PEID demonstrates advantages in reducing soft tissue damage and accelerating perioperative recovery.
ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility and effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) for recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH). MethodsBetween June 2009 and December 2011, 56 patients with RLDH underwent PETD after local anesthesia, including 30 males and 26 females, with a mean age of 50 years (range, 24-70 years). The involved segments were L3, 4 in 3 cases, L4, 5 in 34 cases, and L5-S1 in 19 cases. Of 56 patients, 48 suffered from ipsilateral re-herniation, and 8 suffered from contralateral re-herniation. All the patients had a mean pain-free interval of 5.5 years (range, 6 months to 27 years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for back pain was 6.18±1.44 and the VAS score for leg pain was 7.66±1.03. Postoperative effectiveness was assessed based on the VAS score and modified MacNab criteria. ResultsThe mean operation time was 60.4 minutes (range, 30-100 minutes) and the mean duration of hospital stay was 5.1 days (range, 3-6 days). All patients were followed up 28.2 months on average (range, 24-56 months). Patients obtained immediate pain relief postoperatively. The postoperative VAS scores of back and leg pain at 1 month, 3 months, 12 months, and last follow-up were significantly decreased when compared with preoperative score (P<0.05). Based on the modified MacNab criteria, the results were excellent in 39 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 3 cases at 12 months after operation, and the excellent and good rate was 85.7%. Surgery-related complications were found in 5 cases (8.9%); one patient (1.8%) suffered from recurrence at 18 months postoperatively, and the symptom was relieved after open lumbar discectomy and intervertebral fusion surgery. ConclusionPETD has several advantages in treating RLDH, such as avoiding from the old scar tissue, decreasing operation-related complications, shortening operation time, reducing trauma, and obtaining rapid postoperative recovery. This technique is feasible and effective for RLDH.