Effects of different moxibustion durations on lumbar disk herniation:a clinical study

Objective:To explore the best duration of moxibustion on lumbar disk herniation(LDH).Methods:A total of 88 patients were randomly divided into control group and 15-min,30-min,and 45-min moxibustion groups.The control group was treated with conventional therapy,while the other 3 groups were intervened with different moxibustion durations.Low back pain,dysfunction,lumbar function,and effective rates were evaluated before,in the first week and second week of intervention.Results:In low back pain,compared with the control group,the score of the 15-min group had no significant difference,but it was significantly lower in the 30-min and 45-min groups.In dysfunction and lumbar function,compared with the control group,the scores of the 15-min,30-min,and 45-min groups were significantly higher,and the scores of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher,but there was no significant difference between the 30-min and 45-min group.In effective rates,there was no significant difference between the control group and 15-min group;the effective rates of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusions:Moxibustion has good therapeutic effect on LDH with specific moxibustion time.

Resorption of upwardly displaced lumbar disk herniation after nonsurgical treatment: A case report

BACKGROUND The spontaneous resorption of lumbar disk herniations(LDHs)has been widely reported.However,the majority of these reports analyze the resorption of LDHs that were displaced backwards or downwards.There have been few reports on the spontaneous resorption of upwardly displaced L4/5 LDH that has caused femoral nerve symptoms.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with acute pain in her left leg.She had been suffering from recurrent lower back pain for approximately 1 year and began to feel pain accompanied with numbness at the anterior aspect of her left leg 7 d previously.On examination,a typical L4 nerve stimulation was noted.An upwardly displaced LDH at the L4/5 level was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging.The patient attained complete relief of her symptoms after 10 wk of nonsurgical treatment and the upwardly displaced herniation almost entirely disappeared.There was no recurrence during a follow-up of 2 years.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware that the nerves disturbed by LDHs vary according to the direction of the herniations and the probable resorption of upwardly displaced LDHs should be considered before making a decision on surgery.

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.

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.

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.

Technique of Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy is a minimally invasive surgery with little pain, less blood loss, less hospital stay and the surgery can be done in local anesthesia, which was started during late 20th century. Kambin and Gellmann in 1973 in the United States and Hijikata in Japanin 1977 individually preformed posterolateral percutaneous nucleotomy for the resection of the nucleus pulposus and release of compressed exiting nerve root, which is now spreading through the world and many surgeons are developing their skill but it needs experience and patience for successful outcomes. Along with advanced instruments now the surgery can be performed only giving a small skin incision of 8 - 10 mm and is as effective as the conventional method of surgery and open microdiscectomy surgery for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. In this review, we are explaining the technique of minimally invasive Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy surgery along its advantages and complications which can be encountered while performing this technique.

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 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.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Wumen Zhike Gancao Decoction on Rats with Lumbar Disc Herniation Associated with Lipid Metabolic Disorder

[Objectives] To study the anti-inflammatory effect of Wumen Zhike Gancao Decoction (ZKGC) on rats with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) associated with lipid metabolic disorder.[Methods] A rat model of LDH was established by implantation of the autologous nucleus pulposus from the coccygeal vertebra of each rat tail, and histopathology, immunohistochemistry and biochemistry assays were employed to evaluate the treatment effects of ZKGC. In addition, the metabolic characteristics of LDH and ZKGC treatment were investigated with a liquid-chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC/Q-TOF-MS)-based metabolomics study. Nucleus pulpous tissues from rat models were collected and analyzed by metabolomics.[Results] By metabolism network analysis, lipid metabolism was up-regulated in LDH rat models and the treatment with ZKGC significantly reversed the abnormal up-regulated lipid metabolism. Meanwhile, the treatment of ZKGC also regulated the markers of neuron autophagy and inflammatory response in serum.[Conclusions] These results indicated that a complex mechanism, including abnormal lipid metabolism, associates with the progress of LDH, and multiple pathways might be involved in ZKGC s therapeutic effects on LDH.

Clinical Outcome of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery (PELS) in Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Lumbar disc herniation is a spinal problem seen in both young and old people causing pain in the back with pain and numbness in lower extremity leading to disability limiting daily activities. When conservative treatments are ineffective, then it is treated by surgeries, more recently with minimal invasive percutaneous endoscopic lumbar surgery (PELS). One of the mostly accepted PELS by spinal surgeons is percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy, which can be performed for any age. The main aim of this review was to evaluate clinical outcome and safety based on the Oswestry Disable Index (ODI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and MacNab criteria and complications of PELS surgery and its advantages in clinical basis.

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.

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.

Early efficacy of endoscopic translaminar and intervertebral foraminal approaches in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

Objective:To investigate the early efficacy of two approaches for lumbar disc herniation under spinal endoscopy.Methods:45 cases of lumbar disc herniation were divided into interlaminar approach(27 cases)and intervertebral foramen approach(18 cases)according to different surgical approaches.Postoperative pain visual analogue scale(VAS)was used.Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)lumbar spine score(JOA)and modified Macnab criteria were used to evaluate the postoperative outcome.Results:(1)VAS score.There is no interaction effect between the access mode and the time factor(F=0.620,P=0.603).There were statistically significant differences in pain VAS scores between preoperative and postoperative time points,that is,there was a time effect(F=2157.488,P=0.000).The overall VAS scores of the two groups were compared,and the difference was not statistically significant,that is,there was no grouping effect(F=2.610,P=0.114).The VAS score of pain in both groups decreased with time,and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant before surgery,at discharge,1 month after surgery and 3 months after surgery(t=0.067,P=0.947;t=1.415,P=0.164;t=0.564,P=0.575;t=0.442,P=0.660);JOA score.There is no interaction effect between the access mode and the time factor(F=1.296,P=0.280).The difference of JOA score between preoperative and postoperative time points was statistically significant,that is,there was a time effect(F=1464.830,P=0.000).JOA scores of the two groups showed an increasing trend with time,and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant before surgery,at discharge,1 month after surgery and 3 months after surgery(t=0.067,P=0.947;t=1.415,P=0.164;t=0.564,P=0.575;t=0.442,P=0.660);(2)The improved Macnab standard was used to evaluate the excellent and good rate at 3 months after surgery.In the interlaminar group,12 cases were excellent,13 cases were good and 2 cases were fair.The excellent and good rate was 92.6%.In the intervertebral foramen group,7 cases were excellent,10 cases were good and 1 case was fair.The excellent and good rate was 94.4%.The overall excellent and good rate of the two groups was 93.3%.Conclusion:Both approaches can achieve satisfactory efficacy in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation,which is worthy of clinical application.However,for beginners,l5-s1 lumbar disc herniation is more suitable for intervertebral disc approach,so as to achieve satisfactory efficacy.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis: Emphasizing on Clinical Outcomes of Transforaminal Technique

Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis are the most common spine diseases which are mainly due to age related Spine degeneration. Diagnosis of both Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis depends on clinical findings as well as radiological investigations. Treatment of choice of these conditions is on the basis of the patient conditions. Surgical treatment is the option only when the conservative treatment does not improve the patient’s clinical condition. Advancement and improvement of the technology have resulted in the traditional open surgical treatment into minimal invasive surgery. Intervention of the different surgical instruments with expert spinal surgeons had made percutaneous endoscopic lumbar Spine surgery as one of the preferred choices of surgery for treating Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis. The concept of percutaneous endoscopic surgery for lumbar region is to provide surgical options without producing iatrogenic morbidity associated with the open surgical procedures. Conventionally, there are different approaches/techniques for Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery, but in this review we are mainly focusing on the Transforaminal Technique. Regarding the Lumbar Disc Herniation treatment with transforaminal approach, a number of articles have been published due to which we mainly focused on those articles which were published after 2009 onwards. While fewer articles related to Lumbar Spine Stenosis treatment with Transforaminal approach were found, we tried to brief out all those articles. On the basis of comparative study of different surgeries done for Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis, Percutaneous Transforaminal endoscopic Lumbar Surgery provides a substantial benefit. Transforaminal approach for treating Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis is safe and effective. The Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery has advantage as it is performed under local anesthesia with shorter length of hospitalization and early return to normal life. The clinical outcome of the patient that underwent Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Spine Stenosis is quite good in regard of its fewer complication and more benefits.

Meta-analysis of Huoxue huayu Chinese medicine compound combined with Intervertebral Pore Lens in the treatment of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Objective:A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the difference of curative effect of Huoxue huayu Chinese medicine compound combined with intervertebral pore lens in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.Methods:CNKI,VIP,CBM,PubMed and Web of Science were searched by computer and included in the clinical trial data about the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by the Huoxue huayu Chinese medicine compound and intervertebral pore lens.Data were extracted and Cochrane system was used to evaluate the quality of the study.Cochrane system in ReMan 5.1 was used to evaluate the publication bias and Stata 12.0 was used for meta analysis.Results:A total of 1039 patients were included in 16 articles,including 519 patients in the treatment group and 520 patients in the control group.The results showed that the total effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(RR=1.20,95%CI(1.11,1.30),P<0.05);The excellent rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(RR=1.20,95%CI(1.08,1.32),P<0.05);The JOA score of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(MD=3.39,95%CI(1.90,4.87),P<0.00001);the VAS score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group(MD=-1.13,95%CI(-1.84,-0.42),P=0.002);The ODI score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group[MD=-3.34,95%CI(-4.49,-2.19),P<0.00001].Conclusion:Huoxue huayu Chinese medicine compound and intervertebral pore lens can improve the clinical effect and is worth popularizing.However,due to the poor quality of the literature,more high-quality double-blind randomized controlled trials with large samples are needed.

Identification of Microbes in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

Apart from the conventional factors, recent evidences have suggested that lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is also associated with microbes, which is completely ignored in the management of patients with disc prolapse and disc degeneration. Therefore, the present study was carried out to identify the different microorganisms in subjects with LDH. Subjects (n = 101) who were confirmed for LDH with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and undergoing lumbar discectomy, were recruited in this study. Standard protocols for disinfection of the skin and surgical instruments were adhered. Skin scrapings, muscle biopsies and portion of the inter-vertebral disc were transferred into individually labeled Robertson’s cooked meat enrichment broth for anaerobic identification. Remaining portions of the excised disc material and muscle biopsy were taken for aerobic identification. Anaerobic isolates were identified using Gram stain and catalase test while the species identification was done by RapID ANA II ID kit. Gram stain, catalase test, DNase test and coagulase tests were used for identification of aerobic bacteria. Study confirmed 6/101 disc cultures (6%) with positive anaerobes and 12 disc cultures with coagulase negative Staphylococci spp. Among the anaerobes, two disc cultures were identified as Propionibacterium acnes and one as Gemella morbillorum. Due to slow growth, other three anaerobic cultures were not confirmed. However, they resembled the colony morphology of Gram positive bacilli. None of the control samples (skin and muscles) had any positive growth. The present study adds to the literature confirming the role of microorganisms in LDH. Present study newly identified Gemella morbillorum in the intervertebral tissue in addition to the previously reported microorganisms associated with LDH.

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.

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.

The Clinical Outcomes of Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy in Treating Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Review

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a minimally invasive technique started during the late 20th century. This process is done through microscopic view under local anesthesia. There is a growing but still insufficient evidence that lumbar EDS shows slightly better results in terms of minor tissue damage, shorter hospital stay, faster return to ordinary daily activities, and patient satisfaction. Recurrence rate still remains a matter of debate, and is related with the surgical skills of the surgeon. The complication rate seems to be similar in both of the techniques i.e., open and endoscopic. More randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis are needed to clarify whether lumbar EDS can be considered comparable if not superior to standard open discectomy. In spite of lacking defined clinical evidence, lumbar EDS is without doubt a rapidly expanding PELD and its future developments are incredibly promising. Due to less complication rate this technique can be considered as a gold standard compared to the open discectomy. The surgeons still require more cadaveric practices for learning the curve and to approach the herniated disc area. The main objective of this review article is to show the clinical outcomes of the Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy in treating the lumbar disc herniation.

Thoraco-Lumbar Junction Disc Herniation and Tight Filum: A Unique Combination?

Purpose: The incidence of both symptomatic thoraco-lumbar junction disc herniation (TLJDH) and tight filum (TF) may be underestimated. Both conditions have a complex clinical presentation that may involve the distal spinal cord, conus medullaris, and/or cauda equina, including upper and/or lower motor neuron impairment, sensory impairment, urological and sexual dysfunction. The coexistence of both conditions has not been previously reported and may be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Methods: We report three teenage girls, a 24-year-old woman, and two middle-aged women who were diagnosed with both conditions and treated at our institution. Results: Disc herniation level was T11-T12 in 2, T12-L1 in 3, and L1-L2 in one. All patients had a fatty filum (n = 5) and/or a low-lying CM (at or above L1-L2 in 2, at or below L2-L3 in 4), and were treated with filum sectioning first. All patients noted marked improvement of preoperative complaints including back pain (n = 5), leg pain and fatigue (n = 4), urological complaints (n = 4), and toe gait (n = 1). One 16-year-old girl successfully underwent a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy for persisting pain at the thoraco-lumbar junction two years after filum sectioning. Conclusions: Thoraco-lumbar junction disc herniation and tight filum both act on the distal spinal cord close to the transition to the cauda equina. Both conditions may coincide and may even act synergistically, the disc herniation acting as a fulcrum, aggravating the deleterious effect of the tethering force (and vice versa). This might explain why both conditions combined may present at a younger age. We suggest filum sectioning as the primary treatment option in all patients, however, more cases and a longer follow-up are needed to better understand their unique combination and interaction. Nevertheless, when confronted with a symptomatic TLJDH especially in young patients we advise to rule out a coinciding TF by careful consideration of all clinical, radiological, and urological data.