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Transforaminal Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminotomy Under Local Anesthesia for L5/S1 Adjacent Segment Foraminal Stenosis

Transforaminal Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminotomy Under Local Anesthesia for L5/S1 Adjacent Segment Foraminal Stenosis

Published on: October 17, 2025

Treatment of Soft Tissue and Bony Spinal Stenosis by a Visualized Endoscopic Transforaminal Technique Under Local

Anthony Yeung^1,2, Andrew Roberts^1,2, Lifan Zhu³

¹Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

|April 5, 2019

Abstract

Objective:

To analyze long-term clinical outcomes of endoscopic transforaminal foraminoplasty for foraminal stenosis.

Methods:

Long-term 5-year MacNab outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, complications, and unintended aftercare were analyzed in a series of 86 patients who underwent endoscopic transforaminal foraminoplasty for foraminal stenosis.

Results:

At minimum 5-year follow-up, excellent results according to the MacNab criteria were obtained in 32 patients (37.2%), Good in 40 (46.5%), fair in 11 (12.8%), and poor in 3 (3.5%), respectively. The mean preoperative VAS was 6.15. The mean postoperative and last follow-up VAS was 3.44. Both postoperative VAS and last follow-up VAS were statistically reduced at a significance level of p<0.0001. Postoperative dysesthesia occurred in 9 patients. Another 9 patients had recurrent disc herniations (10.5%). Failure to cure with persistent pain occurred in 3 patients. Two patients developed pain postoperatively stemming from a different level. One patient experienced a postoperative hematoma which ultimately was inconsequential and did not require any additional surgery. Only 3 patients opted for revision endoscopic discectomy and another 2 for revision fusion surgery.

Conclusion:

Patients with symptomatic foraminal stenosis may be treated successfully with early transforaminal endoscopic decompression while maintaining favorable long-term outcomes without the need for fusion in the vast majority of patients.

Keywords:

Foraminal foraminoplasty Foraminal stenosis Lumbar spine Percutaneous transforaminal decompression Spinal stenosis

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