Endoscopically assisted percutaneous lumbar discectomy.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Disc prolapse is a common condition causing sciatica.
• Endoscopic techniques offer a minimally invasive treatment option.
• Indications include sciatica without significant neurological deficit or stenosis, confirmed by discography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopically assisted percutaneous discectomy.
• To identify factors predicting recovery in patients with disc prolapse.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 43 patients with disc prolapse was treated.
• Treatment involved endoscopically assisted percutaneous discectomy.
• Patient follow-up assessed recovery and long-term outcomes.

Main Results:

• The initial six weeks post-procedure were critical for predicting recovery.
• Some patients required subsequent open microdiscectomy.
• The technique demonstrated particular utility in adolescent patients.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic discectomy is a valuable treatment for adolescent disc prolapse.
• Early outcomes within six weeks are indicative of long-term success.
• Careful patient selection is important for optimal results.