title: Smooth dissection of ligamentum flavum for lumbar microdiscectomy. Preliminary report of this personal technique.
abstract: A newly designed technique for preservation of the ligamentum flavum (LF) during the lumbar discectomy is presented. This technique allows the evacuation of the lumbar herniated disk, without removal or laminar disinsertion of the LF. This ligament is smoothly dissected longitudinally in its more lateral portion, obtaining, after discectomy, the contact of the 2 margins with restoration of its functional integrity. Forty-five patients were operated on with this technique. We feel that this technique could offer advantages in reduction of epidural fibrosis and of decreased risk of dural injury, and is helpful to the surgeon in the case of recurrence of discal herniation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania 95100, Italy. nicoletti@neuromed.it
authors.forename: Giovanni F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Nunzio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Platania
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albanese
mesh_terms: D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome