title: [Intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy for far lateral lumbar disc herniation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical effect of intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy for far lateral lumbar disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2005 to February 2010, 73 patients with far lateral lumbar disc herniation were treated with intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 males and 32 females, aged from 19 to 80 years old with an average of 56.5 years; courses of disease ranged from 1 to 25 months with an average of 4.5 months. The main symptom was low back pain and sciatica, especially the sciatica was seriously. Herniation level was in L3,4 of 9 cases, L4,5 of 49 cases, L5S1 of 15 cases. Preoperative, 2 weeks after operation, final follow-up, conditions of pain relief were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS); total life quality of patients were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before operation and last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All operations were performed successfully, operative time was from 40 to 115 min (mean of 50 min); and blood loss was from 50 to 150 ml (mean of 110 ml). Incision infection had 1 case and incomplete nerve root injury had 1 case. All patients were followed up from 3 to 8 years with an average of 4.5 years. Postoperative VAS and ODI had obviously improved (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique of intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy is a feasible and effective method for far lateral lumbar disc herniation.
authors.affiliation: Second Affiliated  Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: He-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Zhen-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Zhi-Cai
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Yu-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; 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; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult