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Minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy found effective for recurrent lumbar disc herniation
Researchers found minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy can offer patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation success rates comparable to those reported with other minimally invasive techniques.
Researchers included 30 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy for recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Preoperative and postoperative VAS scores for pain and clinical outcomes according to a modified Macnab criteria were evaluated. Patients had a minimum follow-up of 1.5 years.
Investigators found the mean operating time for the procedure was 90 ± 35 minutes. They found the mean preoperative VAS score for leg pain (5.9 ± 2.1) was significantly reduced postoperatively (1.7 ± 1.3) in the cohort.
In all, clinical outcomes were deemed as excellent for 18 patients; good for nine patients; fair for one patient; and poor for two patients. The overall success rate in the cohort was 90%, researchers wrote.
At final-follow up, nine patients developed complications. Incidental durotomy occurred in five patients, two patients required fusion due to postoperative instability and two patients had a facet joint syndrome that was treated with a facet joint block, according to the researchers.
Researchers concluded that minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy for recurrent lumbar disc herniation is a safe treatment and is equally effective as other minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopic transforaminal discectomy and microendoscopic discectomy. – by Robert Linnehan.
Disclosure: Hubbe reports he is a consultant for Medtronic.