[COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF OPEN AND TRANSFORAMINAL ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF HERNIATED DISCS]

Open lumbar discectomy was considered the gold standard among surgical methods for the treatment of hernias, however, due to technological progress in endoscopy and improved surgical approaches, a transforaminal discectomy technique has been developed that can reduce tissue trauma and reduce the risk of postoperative complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of hernias of the intervertebral discs with transforaminal endoscopic discectomy, and compare them with the results of a conventional open microdisectomy. From 2014 to 2019, out of 298 examined, 146 patients underwent transforaminal endoscopic discectomy and 152 patients underwent open microdiscectomy. Clinical results were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Pain Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index. Long-term results were evaluated based on the modified Macnab criteria. Patients who underwent transforaminal endoscopic discectomy showed shorter periods of return to working capacity and a hospital stay, which is associated with a shorter operation time and less tissue trauma compared to the group in which open microdiscectomy was performed. Our data showed that transforaminal endoscopic discectomy can provide the typical benefits of minimally invasive surgery, including: reducing the time of surgery, the time spent in the hospital, restoring disability, as well as reducing the use of painkillers.