title: Microendoscopic discectomy (MED) for lumbar disc prolapse.
abstract: Microendoscopic discectomy (MED), which combines traditional lumbar microsurgical techniques with endoscopy, is being used as a minimally invasive procedure for lumbar disc herniation. We reviewed 30 patients who underwent MED at our institution and compared their outcome with that of patients subjected to the conventional method. Laboratory data suggested that MED was less invasive surgery. Moreover, MED allowed an early return to work. However, the difficulties of this endoscopic procedure were evident, because of the limited exposure and two-dimensional video display. The potential injury of the nerve root and prolonged surgical time remain as matters of serious concern. To overcome this problem, we used an operative magnifying glass during surgery and this helped us to accomplish the procedure comfortably. We recommend the use of an operative magnifying glass in the early stage of the introduction of MED, for it is quite useful to identify the three-dimensional relationships of the structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Suwa Red Cross Hospital, Kogandori 5-11-50, 392-8510 Suwa-City, Japan. BXS04106@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamimura
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itsubo
authors.forename: Tadaatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017586:Diskectomy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome