Objective To evaluate the prel iminary cl inical outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for patient with discogenic chronic low back pain (CLBP) and fail ing to respond to conservative treatment. Methods From June 2007 to May 2008, 52 patients with CLBP and fail ing to respond to conservative treatment were treated, including 15 males and 37 females aged 29-46 years old (average 38.2 years old). Those patients were diagnosed ith discogenic pain by low pressure discography. Duration of CLBP was 6-110 months with an average of 32.1 months. MRI exam revealed 108 “black intervertebral discs” low in signal on T2 image, including 3 discs of L2,3, 17 of L3,4, 48 of L4,5 and 40 of L5-S1. Pressure-controlled discography showed positive response, fluoroscopy or intraoperative CT confirmed annulus fibrosus tears of posterior intervertebral disc in 79 discs. PELD was performed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was evaluated before operation, 1 month after operation and at the final follow-up. The cl inical outcome was determined by modified Macnab criteria at the final follow-up. Results The average operation time of each disc was 30.7 minutes (range 21-36 minutes), and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 3.7 days (range 2-5 days). No compl ications such as infection and the injury of blood vessels and nerves occurred. Transient paralysis of nerve occurred in 5 cases on operation day, and those symptoms were disappeared at the final follow-up visit without special treatment. Fifty-two cases were followed up for 3-15 months (average 7.3 months). VAS score before operation, 1 month after operation and at the final follow-up was (7.34 ± 1.52), (3.62 ± 0.92) and (1.57 ± 0.48) points, respectively, indicating there were significant differences compared with preoperative score (P lt; 0.01). According to the modified Macnab criteria, 11 cases were graded as excellent, 23 as good, 13 as fair, 5 as bad, and the excellent and good rate was 65.38%. Conclusion Prel iminary study suggests that PELD is safe and effective in treating patient with discogenic CLBP and fail ing to respond to conservative treatment.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for L5/S1 disc herniation via transforaminal approach (TF-PELD) versus interlaminar approach (IL-PELD).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the cohort studies of TF-PELD versus IL-PELD for L5/S1 disc herniation from inception to October 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 1 RCT and 7 cohort studies involving 414 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that: compared with IL-PELD group, TF-PELD group had longer operative time (MD=17.42, 95%CI 12.86 to 21.97, P<0.000 01) and more frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy (MD=8.42, 95%CI 6.18 to 10.65,P<0.000 01), respectively. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in the post-operative visual analogue scale (MD=0.01, 95%CI –0.23 to 0.25,P=0.94), the post-operative Oswestry disability index (MD=–0.46, 95%CI –2.42 to 1.49, P=0.64), the excellent and good outcomes rate (RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.89 to 1.12, P=0.96), and the rate of complications (RR=0.73, 95%CI 0.45 to 1.18, P=0.20).ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that TF-PELD and IL-PELD are equally effective and safe for L5/S1 disc herniation, but IL-PELD is superior to TF-PELD in less operative time and less radiation exposure. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the short-term effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) in treatment of buttock pain associated with lumbar disc herniation.MethodsBetween June 2015 and May 2016, 36 patients with buttock pain associated with lumbar disc herniation were treated with PELD. Of 36 cases, 26 were male and 10 were female, aged from 18 to 76 years (mean, 35.6 years). The disease duration ranged from 3 months to 10 years (mean, 14 months). The location of the pain was buttock in 2 cases, buttock and thigh in 6 cases, buttock and the ipsilateral lower extremity in 28 cases. Thirty-four patients had single-level lumbar disc herniation, and the involved segments were L4, 5 in 15 cases and L5, S1 in 19 cases; 2 cases had lumbar disc herniation at both L4, 5 and L5, S1. The preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score of buttock pain was 6.1±1.3. VAS score was used to evaluate the degree of buttock pain at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and last follow-up postoperatively. The clinical outcome was assessed by the modified MacNab criteria at last follow-up.ResultsAll patients were successfully operated and the operation time was 27-91 minutes (mean, 51 minutes). There was no nerve root injury, dural tear, hematoma formation, or other serious complications. The hospitalization time was 3-8 days (mean, 5.3 days). All incisions healed well and no infection occurred. Patients were followed up 12-24 months (median, 16 months). MRI examination results showed that the dural sac and nerve root compression were sufficiently relieved at 3 months after operation. Patients obtained pain relief after operation. The postoperative VAS scores of buttock pain at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and last follow-up were 1.1±0.6, 0.9±0.3, 1.0±0.3, and 0.9±0.4 respectively, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative VAS scores (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in VAS score between the different time points after operation (P>0.05). At last follow-up, according to the modifed MacNab criteria, the results were excellent in 27 cases, good in 9 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 94.4%.ConclusionPELD can achieve satisfactory short-term results in the treatment of buttock pain associated with lumbar disc herniation and it is a safe and effective minimally invasive surgical technique.
People’s understanding of lumbar spinal stenosis has become more and more comprehensive and reasonable, however, there are still many controversies about the concepts of " central lumbar canal” and " lateral lumbar spinal canal”, and there is no unified standard at present. In this paper, we redefine and differentiate the two concepts. We believe that some kinds of central canal stenosis caused by bilateral recess stenosis can be completely solved by bilateral percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy. At the same time, the concept of " lumbar lateral recess” is ambiguous. We redefine it as " lateral lumbar spinal canal” and propose " West China Hospital classification” to guide surgical decision-making, which has been widely recognized and applied.
ObjectiveTo identify effect of quantitative indicators of ilium height on approach of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) treatment in patients with L5, S1 lumbar disc herniation.MethodsA retrospective study between May 2014 and March 2016 was conducted, including 100 patients with disc herniation at L5, S1, who were initially enrolled for the PELD treatment. Among them, 66 patients were successfully treated with PELD (group A), and the other 34 patients failed to perform puncture, catheterization, or microscopical operation due to the influence of iliac bone and other peripheral bone structures and treated with alternative surgical plans. By analyzing the X-ray films of lumbar vertebrae (including bilateral ilium) of the two groups before operation, the concept of ilium height rate and ilium angle rate was put forward innovatively. The ilium height rate and ilium angle rate of the two groups were measured and compared, and the diagnostic critical points of ilium height rate and ilium angle rate were determined by ROC curve analysis.ResultsThe ilium height rate was 0.61±0.09, 0.74±0.05 and the ilium angle rate was 0.66±0.08, 0.80±0.08 in groups A and B, respectively, showing significant differences between the two groups (F=69.729, P=0.000; F=65.165, P=0.000). ROC curve analysis showed that the critical point of ilium height rate was 0.71 (area under ROC curve was 0.927, P=0.000), and the critical point of ilium angle rate was 0.75 (area under ROC curve was 0.965, P=0.000).ConclusionPELD is not recommended for patients with L5, S1 intervertebral disc herniation, when the ilium height rate is greater than 0.71 and/or the ilium angle rate is greater than 0.75. Other surgical plans such as transpedicular approach, transpedicular approach, or open surgery, should be recommended to reduce the risk of surgery and the pain of patients.
In recent years, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been widely used in spine surgery and achieved satisfactory results. In order to standardize the ERAS implementation process and application in percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar decompression/discectomy (PEID), we reviewed the literatures and cited evidence-based medicine data, and had a national comprehensive discussion among experts of the Group of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery and Enhanced Recovery, Professional Committee of Orthopedic Surgery and Enhanced Recovery, Association of China Rehabilitation Technology Transformation and Promotion. Altogether, the up-to-date expert consensus have been achieved. The consensus may provide the reference for clinical treatment in aspect of the standardization of surgical operations, the reduction of surgical trauma and complications, the optimization of perioperative pain and sleep management, the prevention of venous thrombosis, and the guidance of patients’ functional training and perioperative education.
ObjectiveTo explore early effectiveness of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique in the treatment of migrated lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 87 patients with migrated lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, who were treated with UBE technique between May 2021 and December 2022 and met the selection criteria. There were 55 males and 32 females, with an average age of 48.8 years (range, 29-74 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 to 23 months, with an average of 9.1 months. The surgical segments included 17 cases of L3, 4, 32 cases of L4, 5, and 38 cases of L5, S1. According to Lee’s classification criteria, there were 12 cases of type 1, 17 cases of type 2, 37 cases of type 3, and 21 cases of type 4. The operation time, length of hospital stay, and complications were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the degree of low back and leg pain before operaion and at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after operation. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate the lumbar spine function. At last follow-up, the modified MacNab criteria was used to evaluate the effectiveness. According to the preoperative migrated intervertebral disc classification, the patients were allocated into groups Ⅰ to Ⅳ. The differences in VAS score and ODI were compared. Results All 87 patients successfully completed the operations. There was no nerve root injury, dural sac injury, or dural tear during operation. The operation time was (58.6±14.6) minutes and the length of hospital stay was (4.0±0.8) days. All incisions healed by first intention after operation. No symptomatic epidural hematoma occurred. All patients were followed up for 12 months. There were significant differences in VAS scores and ODI at each time point after operation when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). There were significant differences in VAS score at 3 days after operation when compared with that at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation (P<0.05). For ODI, except that there was no significant difference between 6 and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), there were significant differences between other time points after operation (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 66 cases, good in 13 cases, and fair in 8 cases according to the modified MacNab criteria, and the excellent and good rate was 90.8%. There was no intervertebral disc herniation recurred during follow-up period. There was no significant difference in VAS score and ODI among groups Ⅰ -Ⅳ before operation and at each time point after operation (P>0.05). ConclusionThe UBE technique is safe and effective in the treatment of migrated lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, with a low complication rate and satisfactory early effectiveness.