Result of full endoscopic uniportal lumbar discectomy: preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Several techniques of minimal invasive spinal surgery are now becoming common roles in the treatment of spinal diseases in many spinal centers. In the present report, the authors present a retrospective, cohort evaluation of 46 consecutive patients who underwent full endoscopic lumbar discectomy. The purpose of the present report was to present outcomes in this initial series of patients and to present outlines of the operative technique; the full endoscopic uniportal lumbar discectomy. The present research is the first preliminary report in Thailand to analyze and evaluate this new surgical technique.


METHODS
Forty-six lumbar disc herniation operations were performed in two spinal centers between February and June 2008, using the full endoscopic uniportal with Vertebris instrumentation system. The operations were carried out by interlaminar and transforaminal approach using an 8 mm-diameter uniportal endoscopy of Vertebris instrumentation. The outcome was clinically assessed, on immediate post-operation and one month after surgery, by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Thai Version of the modified Oswestry disability index (ODI) questionnaire (version 1.0), and modified McNab criteria.


RESULTS
Excellent and good outcome was achieved in 87.4% of patients from Modified McNab criteria. Forty-three patients (93.5%) had significant improvement of sciatic pain immediately after the operation. Eight postoperative complications were demonstrated and discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Full endoscopic uniportal lumbar discectomy is a novel and effective minimally invasive spinal surgical technique. However, the technique requires surgical skill training and experience.
Kuonsongtum
Verapan
V
Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. verapan.kuonsongtum@gmail.com
Paiboonsirijit
Sompoch
S
Kesornsak
Withawin
W
Chaiyosboorana
Voravut
V
Rukskul
Pataravit
P
Chumnanvej
Sorayouth
S
Ruetten
Sebastian
S
D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult