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.

Segmental artery injury during transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Since Kambin experimentally induced arthroscopy to treat herniated nucleus pulposus,percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD)has been developed.The branch of the segmental artery around the neural foramen may be damaged during PELD using the transforaminal approach.We report 2 rare cases in which segmental artery injury that occurred during PELD was treated with emergency embolization.CASE SUMMARY In case 1,a 31-year-old man was transferred to our emergency department with left lower quadrant abdominal pain after PELD at a local hospital.Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging after the surgery showed a hematoma of the left retroperitoneal area and the psoas muscle area.Under suspicion of vascular injury,arteriography was performed.Pseudoaneurysm and blood leakage from the left 4th lumbar segmental artery into the abdominal cavity were identified.Emergency transarterial embolization was performed using fibered microcoils for bleeding of the segmental artery.In case 2,a 75-year-old woman was transferred to our emergency department with low blood pressure,right flank pain,and drowsy mental status after PELD at a local hospital.When the patient arrived at the emergency room,the blood pressure decreased from 107/55 mmHg to 72/47 mmHg.Low blood pressure persisted.Under suspicion of vessel injury,arteriography was performed,and the right 4th lumbar segmental artery rupture was confirmed.Emergency transarterial embolization was performed for bleeding of segmental artery.CONCLUSION We were able to find the bleeding focus by angiography and treat the injury of the segmental artery successfully through emergency transarterial embolization.

Learning curves of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy in transforaminal approach at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels: a comparative study

Objectives： This study aimed to compare the learning curves of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy （PELD） in a transforaminal approach at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels. Methods： We retrospectively reviewed the first 60 cases at the L4/5 level （Group I） and the first 60 cases at the L5/S1 level （Group II） of PELD performed by one spine surgeon. The patients were divided into subgroups A, B, and C （Group I： A cases 1-20, B cases 21-40, C cases 41-60; Group I1： A cases 1-20, B cases 21-40, C cases 41-60）. Operation time was thoroughly analyzed. Results： Compared with the L4/5 level, the learning curve of transforaminal PELD at the L5/S1 level was flatter. The mean operation times of Groups IA, IB, and IC were （88.75±17.02）, （67.75±6.16）, and （64.85±7.82） min, respectively. There was a significant difference between Groups A and B （P〈0.05）, but no significant difference between Groups B and C （P=-0.20）. The mean operation times of Groups IIA, liB, and IIC were （117.25±13.62）, （109.50±11.20）, and （92.15±11.94） rain, respectively. There was no significant difference between Groups A and B （P=0.06）, but there was a significant difference between Groups B and C （P〈0.05）. There were 6 cases of postoperative dysesthesia （POD） in Group I and 2 cases in Group IIA （P=-0.27）. There were 2 cases of residual disc in Group I, and 4 cases in Group II （P=0.67）. There were 3 cases of recurrence in Group I, and 2 cases in Group II （P〉0.05）. Conclusions： Compared with the L5/S1 level, the learning curve of PELD in a transforaminal approach at the L4/5 level was steeper, suggesting that the L4/5 level might be easier to master after short-term professional training.

A retrospective study of epidural and intravenous steroids after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for large lumbar disc herniation

Objective： To assess the early curative effect of epidural or intravenous administration of steroids during a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy （PELD）. Methods： 28 consecutive patients who underwent PELD due to large lumbar disc herniation between November 2014 and January 2016 were followed up for 6 months. These patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment they received after PELD. 14 patients （Group A） were treated by PELD and epidural steroids, while the other 14 patients （Group B） were treated by PELD and intravenous steroids. We evaluated the effectiveness by the preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale （VAS） scores for back and leg pain, and the postoperative Oswestry disability index （ODI） at 3 weeks after surgery via the clinical charts and telephone interview. Postoperative hospital stay and time return to work were investigated as well. Results： There is a significant decrease in VAS （back, leg）, ODI, and time return to work （p 〈 0.05）. For VAS （back）, Group A showed a significant decrease compared with Group B at 1 day and I week after surgery （p = 0.011, p = 0.017）. As for VAS （leg）, Group A showed a significant decrease compared with Group B at 1 day, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 3 months follow-up examinations （p - 0.002, p - 0.006, p 〈 0.001, p 〈 0.001）. For ODI, Group A showed a notable decrease compared with Group B （p 〈 0.001）. The postoperative hospital stay in two groups was not statistically different （p = 0.636）. But the time return to work in Group A was significantly shorter than that in Group B （p - 0.023）. Conclusion： Patients who underwent PELD with epidural steroid administration for large lumbar disc herniation showed favorable curative effect compared with those who underwent PELD with intrave- nous steroid administration.

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.

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF FENESTRATED DISCECTOMY FOR LUMBAR DISC

Objective To evaluate the long-term outcomes of fenestrated discectomy for lumbar disc herniation and analyze the correlative influence factors. Methods Eighty-two cases of lumbar disc herniation, from February 1996 to May 1999, were retrospectively studied. All patients were treated with simple fenestrated discectomy. The average follow-up time was 8 years and 7 months （from 7 years tolO years and 3months）. There were 13, 38 and 31 cases at 13 - L4, L4 - L5 and L5 - S1 level, respectively. Results The average scales before operation were as following ： Japanes Orthopaedics Association （ JOA ） scale 6. 5 （ 5 - 9 ） , visual analysis scale （ VAS） of low back pain4.8 （0-8）. and VAS of sciatica 7.2 （4-10）. At the final follow-up, the above parameters were 13.2 （ 10 - 14 ）, 1.8 （0 - 10） and 1.2 （0 - 7）, respectively. The average increase ratio of JOA scale was 78. 8%. The average disc-vertebra height ratio （ Mochida method） was 80.2%. At the final follow-up, 7 cases reoccurred disc herniation. The final clinical satisfaction rate was 80% （ modified Macnab method ）. Conclusion With appropriate surgical indications, the successfid long-term outcomes could be expected with fenestrated discectomy. Discectomy improves sciatica to a greater extent than low back pain. The occurrence of low back pain is related to intervertebral disc height, segment stability, disc degeneration, and lumbar muscle disability.

Double tractors swing microendoscopic discectomy technique for multi-segmental lumbar disc herniation

Objective To evaluate the effect of double tractors swing microendoscopic discectomy technique in multisegmental lumbar disc herniation.Methods From December 2006 to November 2009,153 patients with multisegmental lumbar disc herniation

Postoperative discal pseudocyst and its similarities to discal cyst:A case report

BACKGROUND Postoperative discal pseudocyst(PDP)is a rare condition that presents after surgery for lumbar disc herniation.Due to the lack of information,the diagnosis and treatment of PDP remain controversial.Herein,we report a PDP case that occurred following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and received conservative treatment.Additionally,we review all the published literature regarding PDP and propose our hypothesis regarding PDP pathology.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old man presented with a relapse of low back pain and numbness in his left lower extremity after undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.Repeat magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a cystic lesion at the surgical site with communication with the inner disc.The patient was diagnosed as having PDP.The patient received conservative treatment,which resulted in rapid improvement and spontaneous regression of the lesion,and had a favorable outcome in follow-up.CONCLUSION PDP and discal cyst(DC)exhibit similarities in both histological and epidemiological characteristics,which indicates the same pathological origin of PDP and DC.The iatrogenic annular injury during discectomy might accelerate the pathological progression of DC.For patients with mild to moderate symptoms,conservative treatment can lead to great improvement,even inducing spontaneous regression.However,surgical cystectomy is necessary in patients with neurological deficits and where conservative treatment is ineffective.

Comparison of simple discectomy and instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with Modic endplate changes

Background The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the surgical outcomes of simple discectomy and instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion （iPLIF） in patients with lumbar disc herniation and Modic endplate changes.Our hypothesis was that iPLIF could provide better outcome for patients with refractory lumbar disc herniation and Modic changes （LDH-MC）.Methods Ninety-one patients with single-segment LDH-MC were recruited.All patients experienced low back pain as well as radicular leg pain,and low back pain was more severe than leg pain.Forty-seven patients were treated with discectomy and 44 were treated with iPLIE The outcomes of both low back pain and radicular leg pain using visual analogue scale （VAS） as well as the clinical outcome related to low back pain using Japanese Orthopaedic Association （JOA） score were assessed before and 18 months after surgery,respectively.Results Both low back and leg pain were significantly improved 18 months after simple discectomy and iPLIE Compared to patients undergoing simple discectomy,low back pain was significantly reduced in patients undergoing iPLIE but there was no significant difference in leg pain between two groups.Solid fusion was achieved in all patients who underwent iPLIF.Conclusions In patients with LDH-MC,iPLIF can yield significantly superior outcome on the relief of low back pain compared to simple discectomy.Simple discectomy can relieve radicular leg pain as efficient as iPLIE Accordingly,iPLIF seems to be a reliable treatment for patients with LDH-MC and predominant low back pain.

Comparison of safety and efficiency of microendoscopic discectomy with automatic nerve retractor and with nerve hook

This study compares the safety and efficiency of two techniques in microendoscopic discectomy(MED)for lumbar disc herniation.The two techniques are MED with automatic nerve retractor and MED with nerve hook which had been widely used for many years.The former involves a newly developed MED device which contains three parts to protect nerve roots during operation.Four hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent MED treatments between October 2010 and September 2015 were recruited and randomized to either intraoperative utilization of automatic nerve retractor(n紏315,group A)or application of nerve hook during surgery(n=113,group B).Operation time and intraoperative bleeding volume were evaluated.Simultaneously,Visual Analogue Scales(VAS)and muscle strength grading were performed preoperatively,and 1,2,3 days,1,2 weeks,3 and 6 months postoperatively.No dramatic difference of pain intensity was observed between the two groups before surgery and 6 months after surgery(P>0.05).The operation time was shorter in group A(30.3061.89 min)than that in group B(59.4163.25 min).Group A(67.83613.14 ml)experienced a significant decrease in the amount of blood loss volume when compared with group B(100.04615.10 ml).There were remarkable differences of VAS score and muscle strength grading after postoperative 1,2,3 days,1,2 weeks and 3 months between both groups(P≤0.05).MED with automatic nerve retractor effectively shortened operation time,decreased the amount of bleeding,down-regulated the incidence of nerve traction injury.