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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Transforaminal Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminotomy Under Local Anesthesia for L5/S1 Adjacent Segment Foraminal Stenosis
Published on: October 17, 2025
A less invasive treatment by a full-endoscopic spine surgery for adjacent segment disease after lumbar interbody
Hiroki Iwai1,2,3, Yasushi Oshima2,3,4, Tomoaki Kitagawa5
1Iwai FESS Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) is a suitable treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and foraminal stenosis. This study investigated the usefulness of FESS in treating adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar interbody fusion (LIF).
Methods:
Between September 2015 and March 2019, a total of 13 patients with symptomatic ASD after LIF underwent FESS. Discectomy and foraminoplasty using a 3.5-mm diameter high-speed drill were performed for treating LDH and foraminal stenosis. Preoperative and postoperative statuses were evaluated using Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores.
Results:
The patients' mean age was 64.8 years; there were 10 male and 3 female patients. The mean operative time was 52.7 min. The mean pre- and postoperative NRS scores were 7.6 and 3.1, respectively. The mean pre- and postoperative mJOA scores were 10.5 and 16.1, respectively, and the mean recovery rate was 32.8%. Subsequent operative treatments were required in 3 patients for postoperative complication, insufficient decompression, and recurrence LDH.
Conclusions:
FESS is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for ASD after LIF and a potential alternative to extend the LIF to the adjacent vertebra or sacrum.
