The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients

Abstract Background Far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) compresses the nerve root at the same level. The laterally herniated disc fragment typically could not be exposed by the standard posterior hemi-laminectomy technique, and a total facetectomy including wide bone removal is usually mandat...

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Main Author: Mohamed Samir Kabil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2019-07-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41984-019-0047-6
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author Mohamed Samir Kabil
author_facet Mohamed Samir Kabil
author_sort Mohamed Samir Kabil
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) compresses the nerve root at the same level. The laterally herniated disc fragment typically could not be exposed by the standard posterior hemi-laminectomy technique, and a total facetectomy including wide bone removal is usually mandatory for good exposure and removal of the herniation but simultaneously increasing the risk of instability. Objective In the present study, the author presents his initial 4-year experience and surgical outcome in treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation with a posterior endoscopic approach. Methods This study was carried out in the period between February 2011 and January 2015, where 33 consecutive patients with symptomatic FLLDHs underwent a posterior endoscopic lateral approach for resection of the herniation. The mean age was 39.3 years, range 26–59 years. Patients were followed up for 4 years (mean follow-up was 19.9 months, range 3–47 months). Patients had their clinical outcomes reviewed and evaluated in terms of pain by visual analog scale (VAS) and in terms of functional outcome by modified Macnab criteria (MMC). Results Mean operative time was 91 min (range 55–166 min). At initial follow-up, according to MMC (3 months postoperative), 86% of patients were pain-free (28/33) and considered their postoperative status as excellent and 14% as good (5/33), and no patients reported a fair or poor outcome. There were no new postoperative neurological deficits or major complications. There were three cases of accidental medial facetectomy due to excess bony work, a single case of dural tear, and a single case that had a transient postoperative neuralgia that persisted for 2 weeks. Conclusions FLLDH can be treated adequately with the reported microendoscopic approach. The technique is associated with marked improvement in back pain and lower limb symptoms, as well as a short length of hospitalization and other benefits of minimal invasiveness. Although a transitory learning curve is necessary, the endoscope in general was safe in handling bimanually and allowed adequate mobility and visualization.
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spelling doaj.art-69ef0db132ad45048c1330c4df66be992022-12-21T17:59:02ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Journal of Neurosurgery2520-82252019-07-013411810.1186/s41984-019-0047-6The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patientsMohamed Samir Kabil0Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University HospitalAbstract Background Far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) compresses the nerve root at the same level. The laterally herniated disc fragment typically could not be exposed by the standard posterior hemi-laminectomy technique, and a total facetectomy including wide bone removal is usually mandatory for good exposure and removal of the herniation but simultaneously increasing the risk of instability. Objective In the present study, the author presents his initial 4-year experience and surgical outcome in treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation with a posterior endoscopic approach. Methods This study was carried out in the period between February 2011 and January 2015, where 33 consecutive patients with symptomatic FLLDHs underwent a posterior endoscopic lateral approach for resection of the herniation. The mean age was 39.3 years, range 26–59 years. Patients were followed up for 4 years (mean follow-up was 19.9 months, range 3–47 months). Patients had their clinical outcomes reviewed and evaluated in terms of pain by visual analog scale (VAS) and in terms of functional outcome by modified Macnab criteria (MMC). Results Mean operative time was 91 min (range 55–166 min). At initial follow-up, according to MMC (3 months postoperative), 86% of patients were pain-free (28/33) and considered their postoperative status as excellent and 14% as good (5/33), and no patients reported a fair or poor outcome. There were no new postoperative neurological deficits or major complications. There were three cases of accidental medial facetectomy due to excess bony work, a single case of dural tear, and a single case that had a transient postoperative neuralgia that persisted for 2 weeks. Conclusions FLLDH can be treated adequately with the reported microendoscopic approach. The technique is associated with marked improvement in back pain and lower limb symptoms, as well as a short length of hospitalization and other benefits of minimal invasiveness. Although a transitory learning curve is necessary, the endoscope in general was safe in handling bimanually and allowed adequate mobility and visualization.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41984-019-0047-6Far lateral lumbar herniationMicroendoscopic discectomyExtraforaminal disc herniation
spellingShingle Mohamed Samir Kabil
The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery
Far lateral lumbar herniation
Microendoscopic discectomy
Extraforaminal disc herniation
title The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
title_full The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
title_fullStr The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
title_full_unstemmed The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
title_short The microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary series of 33 patients
title_sort microendoscopic approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation a preliminary series of 33 patients
topic Far lateral lumbar herniation
Microendoscopic discectomy
Extraforaminal disc herniation
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41984-019-0047-6
work_keys_str_mv AT mohamedsamirkabil themicroendoscopicapproachforfarlaterallumbardischerniationapreliminaryseriesof33patients
AT mohamedsamirkabil microendoscopicapproachforfarlaterallumbardischerniationapreliminaryseriesof33patients