title: Fully endoscopic interlaminar and transforaminal lumbar discectomy: short-term clinical results of 163 surgically treated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with lumbar disc disease undergoing fully endoscopic surgery at a single clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2009 and January 2012, 163 patients (74 men and 89 women) underwent fully endoscopic lumbar discectomy. All patients were followed for 1 year after surgery. The Oswestry Disability Index and a visual analog scale were used to analyze outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, 114 (70%) patients had no complaints, 30 (18%) patients had occasional pain, and 19 (12%) patients had no improvement. During postoperative follow-up, 8 patients required repeat surgery for recurrence or residual fragments. Postoperatively, 4 patients experienced dysesthesia, which completely resolved in time. Neurologic deterioration occurred in 5 patients, 4 of whom recovered completely without any intervention. Dural tears occurred in 6 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fully endoscopic interlaminar or transforaminal surgeries are safe and effective treatment modalities for lumbar disc herniations. Despite the difficulties of acquiring this new technique, good results can be achieved with sufficient experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Altay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Artvin State Hospital, Artvin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Guven
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Yorukoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: moakcakaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet Osman
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Akcakaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydoseli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boyali
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahir
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sencan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pulat Akin
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sabanci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Erzincan University Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomleksiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiris
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hepgul
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nail
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Izgi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Tuncay
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Canbolat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Endoscopic discectomy; Interlaminar discectomy; Lumbar disc herniation; Minimally invasive spine surgery; Percutaneous discectomy; Transforaminal discectomy