[Lumbar videodiscectomy. Results in a prospective consecutive series].
OBJECTIVE
We report results obtained in a prospective consecutive cohort of patients undergoing videoscopy-guided discectomy using the Destandau technique.


METHODS
Between June 1998 and August 2000, 40 patients underwent videoscopy-guided discectomy. There were 24 males and 16 females, mean age 43 years (24-78 years). Eleven patients had associated lumbar stenosis. Outcome was reviewed by an independent investigator. Mean follow-up was 19 months (12-67).


RESULTS
One patient required reoperation to establish proof of infection. Three patients required revision for open extended decompression which did not reveal any case of remaining hernia fragment or postoperative hematoma. All three of these patients had lumbar stenosis. At last follow-up 36 patients had not required revision surgery. Mean hospital stay was 3.3 days. The Waddel score was excellent or good for 91% of patients and the Prolo score was excellent or good for 84%. Mean improvement compared with the preoperative status was 65%, as assessed by the Oswestry score.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar videodiscectomy provides satisfactory functional results equivalent to those of microdiscectomy. The advantages of this technique are the precise control of the operation and the good hemostasis made possible by the optical magnification. Low cost is another advantage since the procedure only requires a standard arthroscopic column and standard spinal surgery instruments. Associated stenosis is a relative contraindication for this minimally invasive technique.
Hovorka
I
I
Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologie du Sport, CHU de Nice, Hôpital de l'Archet II, 151, route de Saint-Antoine-de-Ginestière, 06200 Nice.
Damotte
A
A
Arcamone
H
H
Argenson
C
C
Boileau
P
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000075202:Contraindications; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*