title: A new endoscopic technique to decompress lumbar nerve roots affected by spondylolysis. Technical note.
abstract: The authors describe a new endoscopic technique to decompress lumbar nerve roots affected by spondylolysis. Short-term clinical outcome was evaluated. Surgery-related indications were: 1) radiculopathy without low-back pain; 2) no spinal instability demonstrated on dynamic radiographs; and 3) age older than 40 years. Seven patients, four men and three women, fulfilled these criteria and underwent endoscopic decompressive surgery. Their mean age was 60.9 years (range 42-70 years). No subluxation was present in four patients, whereas Meyerding Grade I slippage was demonstrated in three. For endoscopic decompression, a skin incision of 16 to 18 mm in length was made, and fenestration was performed to identify the affected nerve root. The proximal stump of the ragged edge of the spondylotic lesion, and the fibrocartilaginous mass compressing the nerve root were removed. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 22 months (mean 11.7 months). Clinical outcome was evaluated using Gill criteria; in three patients the outcome was excellent, and in four it was good. This new endoscopic technique was useful in the decompression of nerve roots affected by spondylolysis, the technique was minimally invasive, and the clinical results were acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sairyo
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamaki
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komatsubara
authors.forename: Natsuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yasui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome