title: Transforaminal endoscopic surgery for lumbar stenosis: a systematic review.
abstract: Transforaminal endoscopic techniques have become increasingly popular in surgery of patients with lumbar stenosis. The literature has not yet been systematically reviewed. A comprehensive systematic literature review up to November 2009 to assess the effectiveness of transforaminal endoscopic surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis was made. Two reviewers independently checked all retrieved titles and abstracts and relevant full text articles for inclusion criteria. Included articles were assessed for quality, and relevant data, including outcomes, were extracted by two reviewers independently. No randomized controlled trials were identified, but seven observational studies. The studies were of poor methodological quality and heterogeneous regarding patient selection, indications, operation techniques, follow-up period and outcome measures. Overall, 69-83% reported the outcome as satisfactory and a complication rate of 0-8.3%. The reported re-operation rate varied from 0 to 20%. At present, there is no valid evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of transforaminal endoscopic surgery for lumbar stenosis. Randomized controlled trials comparing transforaminal endoscopic surgery with other surgical techniques are direly needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1085, Room U-435, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jorm
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nellensteijn
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ostelo
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: Wilco
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peul
authors.forename: Barend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Royen
authors.forename: Maurits
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Tulder
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome