Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
01:24
Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Approach for Lumbar Discectomy
Published on: September 8, 2023
876
Is Full Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy Less Invasive Than Conventional Surgery? A Randomized MRI Study
Leonello Tacconi1, Francesco Signorelli2, Enrico Giordan3
1Neurosurgical Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
World Neurosurgery
|April 7, 2020
Summary
Transforaminal full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) causes less muscle trauma than open discectomy (OD). This minimally invasive approach offers reduced back pain and faster recovery for patients undergoing lumbar discectomy.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Surgical invasiveness is a key concern in lumbar discectomy.
- Quantitative volumetric analysis of muscle signal intensity can assess surgical trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare surgical invasiveness between transforaminal full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) and open discectomy (OD).
- To quantitatively analyze postoperative paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized prospective study of 50 patients with lumbar foraminal herniation.
- Patients were assigned to either FELD (n=25) or OD (n=25).
- Postoperative MRI (T1 and T2 weighted) was used for volumetric analysis of paravertebral muscle signal changes.
Main Results:
- Open discectomy (OD) showed significantly higher paravertebral muscle signal alterations than FELD.
- No significant difference in leg pain was observed between groups.
- FELD group reported significantly lower postoperative back pain and faster mobilization.
Conclusions:
- FELD demonstrates significantly less surgical invasiveness compared to OD.
- Endoscopic discectomy results in less paraspinal muscle trauma, potentially reducing inflammation.
- FELD is a valuable, minimally invasive tool for spinal surgeons.
