[Lumbar microdiscectomy using intraoperative ultrasound]

To analyze advisability of intraoperative ultrasound during lumbar microdiscectomy.

We used intraoperative ultrasound to identify and localize various tissues and structures of the spinal canal, optimize surgical approach to the herniated disc and assess decompression of neural structures. The study was conducted in 48 patients with herniated discs of the lumbar spine who were operated for the period from 2014 to 2017. We used ultrasound devices BK Medical Pro Focus 2202 and BK Medical Flex Focus 400 with neurosurgical transducer Craniotomy 8862 and Burr-Hole 8863. Examinations were performed before and after flavotomy during neural decompression and after decompression. All patients underwent laboratory, clinical and instrumental survey. We analyzed changes of functional and neurological status and investigated various possibilities of intraoperative ultrasound and its impact on postoperative outcomes.

Intraoperative ultrasound is valuable to verify various tissues and structures of the lumbar spine. On-line scanning gives a correct volumetric representation of the various anatomical structures and their spatial relationships that is essential for less traumatic and more radical surgery.

Intraoperative ultrasound is easy, harmless, inexpensive and widely available method of intraoperative imaging. US data may be comparable with those of intraoperative CT and MRI. Intraoperative ultrasound during lumbar microdiscectomy results better postoperative outcomes.