Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Transforaminal Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminotomy Under Local Anesthesia for L5/S1 Adjacent Segment Foraminal Stenosis
Published on: October 17, 2025
A less invasive surgery using a full-endoscopic system for L5 nerve root compression caused by lumbar foraminal
Katsuhiko Ishibashi1,2, Yasushi Oshima1,2,3, Hirokazu Inoue1,2,4
1Department of Orthopaedics, Iwai Orthopaedic Medical Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is a relatively less invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). This study investigated the usefulness of a full-endoscopic system for PELD to treat L5 nerve root compression caused by lumbar foraminal stenosis (L5-LFS).
Methods:
Between November 2016 and December 2017, a total of 10 patients with unilateral leg pain due to L5-LFS underwent surgery using a full-endoscopic system for PELD. Patients with bilateral L5-LFS or L5-LFS with coexisting LDH and/or spondylolysis were excluded from this study. A percutaneous endoscopic translaminar approach (PETA) was performed via the ipsilateral vertebral isthmus using a 3.5-mm diameter high-speed drill. Preoperative and postoperative statuses were evaluated using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores.
Results:
The patients' mean age was 62.2 years; there were 7 male and 3 female patients. The mean recovery rate was 58.2% with the mJOA score; mean pre- and postoperative NRS scores were 7.4 and 2.3, respectively. The mean operative time was 77.6 min. Although there were no major complications, pain did not improve in an 80-year-old woman with coexisting spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade 2).
Conclusions:
PETA using a full-endoscopic system is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for L5-LFS, with potential to be an alternative surgical strategy for L5-S1 interbody fusion.
Related Concept Videos
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Behavior of Concrete Under Compressive Load
As the concrete specimen fractures under...
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management
Root Mean Square
For example, consider the velocity of gas molecules in a container. The gas molecules are moving in different directions, which might impart positive and negative...
Mitral Stenosis IV: Nursing Management

