title: Percutaneous posterolateral lumbar discectomy and decompression with a 6.9-millimeter cannula. Analysis of operative failures and complications.
abstract: The operative failures and complications of percutaneous posterolateral lumbar discectomy were analyzed in 100 patients who had a herniated nucleus pulposus and were prospectively studied and treated with use of a 6.9-millimeter outer-diameter (4.9-millimeter inner-diameter) sheath and manual insertion of the instruments. Twelve operations were considered to have failed, regardless of the length of postoperative follow-up or the incidence of reinjury; eleven patients had a repeat operation at the index level, and one patient was a chronic drug-abuser. In eight of the eleven patients, subsequent laminectomy was successful. Two patients had a psoas hematoma and one had a transitory sensory and distal motor deficit; all of these complications resolved without sequelae. There were no major complications, including superficial or deep infection, and no patient had neurovascular compromise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kambin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014942:Workers' Compensation