Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy versus Open Decompression Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation

To compare the efficacy of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) and open decompression discectomy (ODD) in the treatment of single-segment L4/5disc herniation.

Descriptive study.

Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping, Jiang'an District, Wuhan, Hubei, China, from January to December 2021.

Using random number table allocation, 94 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH, at level L4/5) received were divided into two groups of 47 patients each in the control group treated with ODD and 47 patients in the observation group treated with TELD. The perioperative-related indexes, VAS score, ODI index, modified Macnab evaluation criteria, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

The incision length in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, the amount of intraoperative blood loss was less than that in the control group, and bedtime and hospital stay were shorter than that in the control group, but the operation time was longer than that in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p <0.01). The VAS score, ODI index, and incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at 7d, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, while modified Macnab evaluation criteria of lumbar function recovery were higher than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (p <0.01).

TELD is safe and effective for patients with LDH, which can relieve postoperative pain and help restore lumbar function.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD), Open decompression discectomy (ODD), Visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Modified Macnab evaluation criteria.