3D-printed auxetic-structured intervertebral disc implant for potential treatment of lumbar herniated disc

In this study,a novel artificial intervertebral disc implant with modified“Bucklicrystal”structure was designed and 3D printed using thermoplastic polyurethane.The new implant has a unique auxetic structure with building blocks joined“face-to-face”.The accompanied negative Poisson’s ratio enables its excellent energy absorption and stability under compression.The deformation and load distribution behavior of the implant under various loading conditions(bending,torsion,extension and flexion)has been thoroughly evaluated through finite element method.Results show that,compared to natural intervertebral disc and conventional 3D implant,our new implant exhibits more effective stress transfer and attenuation under practical loading conditions.The implant’s ability to contract laterally under compression can be potentially used to alleviate the symptoms of lumbar disc herniation.Finally,the biocompatibility of the implant was assessed in vitro and its ability to restore the physiological function of the disc segment was validated in vivo using an animal model.

Treatment of herniated lumbar disc by percutaneous laser disc decompression combined with synchronous suction technique through syringe

Objective： To compare the outcomes of percutaneous laser disc decompression （PLDD） and PLDD with synchronous suction through syringe in the patients with herniated lumbar disc（HLD）. Methods： Forty-two patients with HLD on MRI and those who did not respond to conservative treatment for 6 weeks were randomly divided into group A and group B. In group A, the patients were treated with PLDD and those in group B with PLDD and synchronous suction through syringe. GaAIAS diode laser at 810 nm was used for the ablation in both groups. The treatment effect was evaluated by modified MacNab＇s criteria on the 7^th, 30^th and 90^th day. Results： Evaluated by modified MacNab＇s criteria, the percentages of the excellent and good cases in total patients treated for group B and A were 80.95% and 57.14% on the 7^th follow-up day, 85.71% and 66.67% on the 30^th follow-up day, and 95.24% and 71.43% on the 90^th follow-up day, respectively. Conclusion： Synchronous suction technique through syringe during PLDD improves the overall outcome in the treatment of herniated lumbar disc.

Extracellular vesicles loaded dual-network bioactive sealant via immunoregulation and annulus fibrosus repair for intervertebral disc herniation

Intervertebral disc herniation(IVDH)is a common manifestation of intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)characterized by inflammation that results in the rupture of the annulus fibrosus(AF)and her-niation of the nucleus pulposus(NP).While current clinical research primarily focuses on regulating the degenerative NP,the crucial role of the AF in maintaining the mechanical stability and metabolic balance of the intervertebral disc(IVD)has been overlooked.Resolving immunoregulation and AF repair is im-perative to effectively prevent recurrent herniation.Therefore,this study introduces a bioactive sealant(OD/GM/QCS-sEVs),which combines gelatin methacryloyl(GM)and oxidized dextran(OD)with quater-nized chitosan(QCS)and incorporates small extracellular vesicles(sEVs).The developed sealant possesses injectability,self-healing capabilities,tissue adhesiveness,and mechanical stability,with an average ad-hesive strength of 109.63 kPa.In vitro experiments demonstrate that OD/GM/QCS-sEVs effectively seal AF defects while preserving mechanical properties comparable to those of a normal IVD.Additionally,the sealant releases sEVs through a pH-responsive mechanism,thereby modulating macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype via the NF-κB signaling pathway.This mechanism facilitates immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory effects,and promotes stem cell differentiation into fibrocartilage.Animal experiments confirm the ability of OD/GM/QCS-sEVs to seal defects,prevent proteoglycan loss,inhibit IVDD develop-ment,and promote AF regeneration.Overall,OD/GM/QCS-sEVs hold promise as an innovative bioactive sealant for recurrent herniation by resolving immunoregulation and AF regeneration.

Treatment of lumbar disc herniation with robot combined with unilateral biportal endoscopic technology:A case report

BACKGROUND This reported procedure combines the orthopedic surgical robot with the unilateral biportal endoscopy-lumbar interbody fusion(UBE-LIF),utilizing the UBE's wide viewing field and operating space to perform minimally invasive decompressive fusion of the lesioned segment,and the orthopedic surgical robot's intelligence and precision to perform percutaneous pedicle screw placement.The advancement of this procedure lies in the superposition of advantages and offsetting disadvantages of the two new technologies,and the maximum effect of treatment is achieved with maximum minimization of invasiveness and precision under the monitoring of imaging instruments to maximize the benefit of patients,and this review reports a case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE for reference.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old patient presented to our hospital.Combining various clinical data,we diagnosed the patient with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy,lumbar spondylolisthesis,and lumbar spinal stenosis.We developed a surgical plan of"UBE decompression+UBE-LIF+orthopedic surgery robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw implantation for internal fixation".The results were satisfactory.CONCLUSION We present an extremely rare case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE and achieved good results.Therefore,the technique is worthy of clinical promotion.

A meta-analysis on the clinical efficacy of fire dragon cupping in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

Background:The incidence of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is notably high.Consensus among experts highlights non-surgical treatments as the primary therapeutic approach for LDH.Contemporary medicine frequently employs pharmacotherapy and epidural injections in such treatments,which are associated with numerous adverse effects.Prolonged use can severely impair the liver and kidney functions of patients.Hence,the role of safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine techniques becomes pivotal.Among various traditional Chinese medicine approaches for treating LDH,fire dragon cupping,renowned for its remarkable efficacy,cost-effectiveness,and ease of application,is extensively utilised in clinical settings for managing LDH.Nonetheless,there is a scarcity of systematic and standardised evidence from evidence-based medicine studies.Therefore,conducting a meta-analysis is imperative.Methods:A comprehensive computerised search was conducted in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang Data,VIP,China Biology Medicine disc,PubMed,EMbase,The Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and CINAHL.The search aimed to gather randomised controlled trials on fire dragon cupping therapy for LDH,spanning from the inception of these databases until December 2023.Two researchers independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data,and assessed the methodological quality of the studies included,utilising RevMan 5.3 software for meta-analysis.Results:The results show that the fire dragon cupping therapy group had better clinical effectiveness(relative risk=1.23,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.14,1.33),P<0.00001),less pain(standardized mean difference=–1.33,95%CI(–1.49,–1.16),P<0.00001),and some improvement in lumbar function(Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores:mean difference=3.37,95%CI(2.31,4.43),P<0.00001.Conclusion:The fire dragon cupping therapy significantly alleviates LDH,warranting its extensive application.However,considering the limitations in the number and quality of studies included,the aforementioned conclusion necessitates further validation through more high-quality research.

Clinical therapeutic effect of self-prescribed Sanhanchushi Tongbi on lumbar disc herniation

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)commonly occurs during spinal surgery;LDH is on the increase in younger patients and is classified as"paralysis"and"back pain."Sanhanchushi Tongbi(SPST)is a customized prescription.It disperses cold,relieves pain,removes cold from the meridians and viscera,and treats neuropathic pain.However,few studies have investigated its mechanism of pain relief.AIM To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on LDH treated with self-prescribed SPST.METHODS A total of 211 patients with LDH syndrome were divided into two groups:107 patients in the control group were treated with conventional massage combined with traction,and 104 patients in the observation group were treated with a combination of the control regimen and self-prescribed oral SPST.The patients were treated for 4 wk.Indices of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score and serum inflammatory factor levels were measured.RESULTS After therapy,the TCM syndrome score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The main symptoms,clinical signs,daily activities,and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group after therapy(P<0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,and C-reactive protein were lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).In the observation group,superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher,whereas malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower,compared with the control group(P<0.05).The overall efficacy rate in the observation group was 96.15%,which was substantially higher than that in the control group(88.79%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Self-prescribed SPST can reduce the levels of inflammatory and pain-causing factors as well as lumbar pain in patients with LDH.

Clinical Observation of the Hot and Humid Compress Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Type of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Background: Although a number of studies have reported that the hot and humid compress from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with qi stagnation and blood stasis, clinical evidence is limited. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese hot and humid compress in the treatment of LDH with qi stagnation and blood stasis. Methods: From October 2021 to November 2023, 86 patients with LDH of qi stagnation and blood stasis type were recruited in our hospital and divided into a control (n = 43) and an observation group (n = 43) according to the random number table method. The control group was given routine clinical treatment, and the observation group was treated with the hot and humid compress therapy for two weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, TCM syndrome score, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were observed and compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the VAS score, TCM symptom score, and serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels decreased in both groups (P P P P P Conclusions: The hot and humid compress of traditional Chinese medicine can effectively relieve pain, restore lumbar function, improve TCM syndromes, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, and have a curative effect in treating LDH.

Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Mongolian Medical Warm Acupuncture in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Objective:To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods:CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,Pubmed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and other databases were searched.The randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on the treatment of LDH with Mongolian medical warm acupuncture were manually searched in the Chinese Journal of Ethnic Medicine,Chinese Journal of Mongolian Medicine,Journal of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities,and Journal of Inner Mongolia Medical University.The search time limit was from January 2000 to October 2023.RevMan5.4 software was used to analyze the included and excluded literature.Results:A total of 8 RCTs involving 1,042 patients with LDH were included,with 551 patients in the observation group and 491 patients in the control group.The results of the meta-analysis showed that a total of 8 randomized controlled trials were included in the treatment of LDH with Mongolian medical warm acupuncture compared with simple acupuncture(RR=1.18,95%CI=[1.12,1.23],P<0.00001).Conclusion:The total effective rate of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for LDH is higher than that of simple acupuncture.However,due to the low quality of the literature included in this study,multi-dimensional,large sample size,and more rigorous clinical randomized trials are needed for further verification in the future.

Research progress of pain catastrophizing in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Pain catastrophization is one of the negative emotional factors and an important psychological factor associated with patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Currently,the concept of pain catastrophization of LDH is relatively mature abroad;however,there are only few research studies on this in China.To understand the status quo of pain catastrophization(PC)in patients with LDH and its influencing factors,the intervention measures of PC and their efficacy were further analyzed.In the present paper,the research status of PC at home and abroad is briefly expounded,and the influencing factors and clinical intervention measures for PC are analyzed.This paper reviews the concept of PC,the assessment tools,influencing factors,and the relevant intervention measures.In order to evaluate the pain degree of patients,understand the incidence of pain in patients,and improve the cure rate and quality of life of patients,the basic situation of patients with pain disaster is summarized to provide reference for medical personnel.

Research Progress on Conservative Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is a common orthopedic disease in clinical practice,with main symptoms of varying degrees of pain and functional impairment,seriously affecting the quality of work and life of patients,and also causing a certain degree of economic burden to the patient's family and society.At present,there are various conservative treatment methods for LDH in clinical practice.Conservative treatment has the characteristics of small trauma and high safety,which can achieve symptom relief and cure for most patients in clinical practice.This article aims to provide a scientific reference for the selection of treatment plans for LDH patients by reviewing relevant literature on conservative treatment of LDH that has been publicly reported both domestically and internationally in recent years.

Muscle Strength, Lumbar Curve, Fear of Movement and Functional Disability among Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Review

Introduction: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) refers to the rupture of the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs. Lumbar curvature may lead to the occurrence of lumbar disc degeneration. Fear of movement may worsen their disc herniation and cause further pain and injury. LDH conditions impact the individuals’ quality of life, to explore the relationship between lumbar curve, muscle strength, fear of movement and functional disability among patients with LDH. Methods: An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Springerlink, Google Scholar and a hand search from reference lists was reviewed. Publications were included in human studies, patients 25 - 85 years of age, original studies and published in English language journals from January 2002 to December 2023. Result: In total, 64 articles were researched through the online search engines, and 9 papers were found through manual searches of reference lists. As a result, a total of 11 articles were included for the purpose of this review. The comprehensive analysis revealed the presence of eight cross-sectional studies, two retrospective studies and one experimental study. A minimum of 25 participants and a maximum of 360 participants were included. Ten studies included both genders, only one studies included healthy adults and patients with LDH but these studies didn’t mention gender. Results showed that the factors influencing LDH can be categorized into non-modifiable factors, such as gender, age, height or others. Modifiable factors included increased BMI, DM, smoking, alcohol, employment status, lifestyle and health problems or psychology. Conclusion: Females with greater VASC may be at risk of LDH. The lumbar extensor muscles indicated a localized disc herniation or nerve root pathology in patients with LDH. The fear of movement may lead to psychological consequences and reduce functional disability among patients with LDH.

DISCUSSION OF MECHANISM ON LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION TREATED WITH BLOODLETTING ON W■IZH■NG(委中BL40)

Objective To observe the changes of sciatic nerve conduction velocity （SNCV） and interleukin-1α （IL-1α）, phospholipase A2 （PLA2） and prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） in neucleus pulposus tissue in experimental rabbits with lumbar disc herniation （LDH） ; and discuss the mechanism of LDH treated with bloodletting on Wěizhōng （委中 BL40）. Methods 40 normal named control group, LDH model group, BL40 group New Zealand rabbits were randomized into 4 groups, and comparative point group. The experimental LDH model was prepared by the self-made LDH animal pathological modeling device. Bloodletting on BL40 or on comparative point was applied for 7 days. BL-410 physiological signal recorder was used to record SNCV. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and radioimmunology methods were used to determine the contents of IL-1α and PLA2 in neucleus pulposus tissue and PGE2 in serum. Results In BL40 group, SNCV was significantly increased after treatment comparing with that before treatment （P〈0. 01 ）, and the difference in SNCV value before and after treatment was significantly bigger than that in model group and comparative point group （P〈0.05）. Bloodletting on BL40 reduced the contents of IL-1α and PLA2 in neucleus pulposus tissue and serum PGE2 in LDH rabbits, which indicated significant difference or very significant results in the comparison with model and comparative point groups （P〈0.01 or 0. 05）. Conclusion Bloodletting speeded up rapidly SNCV and reduced the contents of inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-1α, PLA2 and serum PGE2 in LDH rabbits, which indicated that alleviation of local inflammatory reaction is probably one of the mechanisms on LDH treated by bloodletting on BL40.

The Management of Lumbosciatic Disc Related Disease at Renaissance University Teaching Hospital of N’Djamena-Chad: About 156 Cases

Introduction: Low back disc disease (LSD) is a neurosurgical condition with significant socioeconomic repercussions. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and report the modalities of management. Methodology: This study on lumbosciatic disc disease was carried out in the neurosurgery department of the University Hospital Center (CHU), la Renaissance in N’Djamena. It covered a period of 12 months (from September 2019 to August 2020). A descriptive and an analytical approach were used. The variables studied were epidemiology, clinic, radiology and therapy. Results: the results showed that LSD represented 14.7% of the reasons for consultation in neurosurgery. The average age was 45.8, and to some extent, it ranges between 18 and 76. Lifting was the main reason behind lumbosciatic disc disease with 35.9% of cases, followed by a sedentary life style which represents 30.8%. Lumbosciatica L5 was noted in 49.4%. Obesity and overweight were significant risk factors (P = 0.02) reported in 59% of cases. Motor and sensory deficits were observed in 14.8% and 17.3% of cases, respectively. CT of the lumbar spine was performed in 91% and MRI in 28.9%. The L4-L5 disc herniation represented 74.3% of cases, with a lateral location in 44.2% and L5 radicular impingement in 30.8%. Conservative treatment was instituted in 87.2% and surgical treatment in 12.8% of cases. Conclusion: LSD is caused by a sedentary lifestyle, physical work and overweight. Surgery deals with complicated cases and cases not responding to conservative treatment.

Chinese Association for the Study of Pain:Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment for lumbar disc herniation

Lumbar disc herniation is a common disease in the clinical context and does great harm to either the physical or mental health of patients suffering from this disease.Many guidelines and consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc herniation have been published domestically and internationally.According to the expert consensus,clinicians could adopt tailored and personalized diagnosis and treatment management strategies for lumbar disc herniation patients.

Apparent diffusion coefficient in normal and abnormal pattern of intervertebral lumbar discs: initial experience

The aim of the present study was to compare the relationship of morphologically defined non-bulging/herni-ated, bulging and herniated intervertebral lumbar discs with quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC）. Thirty-two healthy volunteers and 28 patients with back pain or sciatica were examined by MRI. All intervertebral lumbar discs from L1 to S1 were classified according to morphological abnormality and degenerated grades. The ADC values of nucleus pulposus （NP） were measured and recorded. The significant differences about mean ADC values of NP were found between non-bulging/herniated discs and bulging discs as well as herniated discs （P 0.05）, whereas there were no significant differences in ADC values between bulging and herniated discs （P 0.05）. Moreover, statistically significant relationship was found in the mean ADC values of NP between ＂non-bulging/herniated and non-degenerated discs＂ and ＂non-bulging/herniated degenerated discs＂ as well as herniated discs （P 0.05）. Linear regression analysis between ADC value and disc level revealed an inverse correlation （r = -0.18）. The ADC map of the NP is a potentially useful tool for the quantitative assessment of componential and molecular alterations accompanied with lumbar disc abnormalities.

Massively prolapsed intervertebral disc herniation with interlaminar endoscopic spine system Delta endoscope: A case series

BACKGROUND Surgery is often indicated for patients with massively prolapsed intervertebral disc herniation.The interlaminar endoscopic spine system(iLESSYS)Delta 6-mm working channel endoscope has advantages over other systems.The aim of this study was to explore the benefits and complications of using the iLESSYS Delta for the treatment of massively prolapsed intervertebral disc herniation.AIM To explore the clinical benefits of treating massively prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with the iLESSYS Delta endoscope.METHODS In this study,the data of 37 patients who underwent surgery with the iLESSYS Delta endoscope at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were retrospectively analyzed.Intraoperative blood loss,operation time,and complications were collected.The visual analog scale(VAS),oswestry disability index(ODI),and modified MacNab criteria were determined before and at 1 d,3 mo,and 6 mo after surgery.RESULTS The mean intraoperative blood loss was 20.4±1.2 mL.The mean operation time was 97.3±12.4 min.The VAS scores for leg and back pain decreased from 68.0±7.3,34.4±8.5 before operation to 2.5±1.7,5.5±1.9 at 6 mo after surgery,respectively.The ODI also decreased from 60.2±7.3 to 17.9±3.4 at 6 mo after surgery.The improvement rate of the MacNab score was 86.4%,which was considered excellent.No spinal dural injury,nerve root injury,secondary protrusion of intervertebral disc,or myeloid hypertension was found during follow-up.CONCLUSION The iLESSYS Delta 6-mm working channel endoscope has several advantages in terms of clinical and functional benefits,complications,and low risk of residual vertebral pulp in treating patients with massively prolapsed intervertebral disc herniation.

Analgesic effects of balanced acupuncture versus body acupuncture in low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation, as assessed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Balanced acupuncture, a single-acupoint balance therapy, regulates the balance of the cerebral center, and is characterized by exerting quick effects and a short treatment course. A total of 20 low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with balanced acupuncture or body acupuncture. Central mechanisms of vaded acupunctures were compared using resting-state functional MRI. Patients from both groups received functional MRI before and after acupuncture. Functional connectivity in brain regions that were strongly associated with the bilatera amygdala was analyzed utilizing AFNI software. Visual analogue scale scores were greater in the balanced acupuncture group compared with the body acupuncture group. Function of the endogenous pain regulation network was enhanced in patients in the balanced acupuncture group, but was not changed in the body acupuncture group. This result indicates that the analgesic effects of body acupuncture do not work through the central nervous system. These data suggest that balanced acupuncture exerts analgesic effects on low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation by regulating the function of the endogenous pain regulation network.

Retraction of lumbar disc herniation achieved by noninvasive techniques: A case report

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation(LDH)has emerged as one of the most common causes of low back pain.The routine treatment approach involves chemonucleolysis therapy,discectomy by percutaneous endoscopy,and percutaneous laser disc decompression.Unfortunately,all of these methods carry inherent risk of causing harm to the patient and,as such,there is an unmet but urgent need for an effective and safe noninvasive treatment for LDH.The purpose of this report is to describe a non-invasive method for re-absorption of LDH.CASE SUMMARY A 34-year-old woman was admitted with a complaint of waist pain that she reported as having become acutely aggravated over the past 3 d and accompanied by discomfort in the right lower limb.Her self-reported medical history included persistent postpartum low back pain from 7 years prior.Physical exam showed positivity for neck flexion test(Lindner sign)and supine abdomen test;the straight leg-raising test showed right 60(+)and left 80(-).Findings from standard imaging(magnetic resonance)and collective physical examinations indicated a L5/S1 herniated lumbar disc.Treatment consisted of three-dimensional(balanced regulating)spinal manipulation and acupuncture,upon which the LDH resolved by retraction.CONCLUSION Following L5/S1 herniated lumbar disc diagnosis,three-dimensional(balanced regulating)spinal manipulation combined with acupuncture therapy is an effective treatment.

Two-level percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniation: A case report

BACKGROUND The technique of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD)as a transforaminal approach has been used to treat highly migrated lower lumbar disc herniations.However,due to the different anatomic characteristics of the upper lumbar spine,conventional transforaminal PELD may fail to remove the highly migrated upper lumbar disc nucleus pulposus.Therefore,the purpose of this study was to describe a novel surgical technique,two-level PELD,for the treatment of highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniations and to report its related clinical outcomes.CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old male presented with a complaint of pain at his lower back and right lower limb.The patient received 3 mo of conservative treatments but the symptoms were not alleviated.Physical examination revealed a positive femoral nerve stretch test and a negative straight leg raise test for the right leg,and preoperative visual analog scale(VAS)score for the lower back was 6 points and for the right leg was 8 points.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)demonstrated L2-L3 disc herniation on the right side and the herniated nucleus pulposus migrated to the upper margin of L2 vertebral body.According to physical examination and imaging findings,surgery was the primary consideration.Therefore,the patient underwent surgical treatment with two-level PELD.The pain symptom was relieved and the VAS score for back and thigh pain was one point postoperatively.The patient was asymptomatic and follow-up MRI scan 1 year after operation revealed no residual nucleus pulposus.CONCLUSION Two-level PELD as a transforaminal approach can be a safe and effective procedure for highly migrated upper lumbar disc herniation.

Comparison of microendoscopic discectomy and open discectomy for single-segment lumbar disc herniation

BACKGROUND Lumbar disc herniation is a common disease.Endoscopic treatment may have more advantages than traditional surgery.AIM To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of microendoscopic discectomy(MED)and open discectomy with lamina nucleus enucleation in the treatment of singlesegment lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.METHODS Ninety-six patients who were operated at our hospital were selected for this study.Patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation were admitted to the hospital from March 2018 to March 2019 and were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group with 48 cases in each group.The former group underwent lumbar discectomy and the latter underwent laparotomy and nucleus pulpectomy.Surgical effects were compared between the two groups.RESULTS In terms of surgical indicators,the observation group had a longer operation time,shorter postoperative bedtime and hospital stay,less intraoperative blood loss,and smaller incision length than the control group(P<0.05).The excellent recovery rate did not differ significantly between the observation group(93.75%)and the control group(91.67%).Visual analogue scale pain scores were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group at 1 d,3 d,1 mo,and 6 mo after surgery(P<0.05).The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(6.25%vs 22.92%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Both MED and open discectomy can effectively improve single-segment lumbar disc herniation,but MED is associated with less trauma,less bleeding,and a lower incidence of complications.