title: Outcomes of Microendoscopic Discectomy and Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Comparative Retrospective Study.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective, case control evaluation of 86 patients who underwent microendoscopic discectomy (MED) and percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and the outcomes of MED and PTED for the treatment of LDH.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  MED and PTED are minimally invasive surgical techniques for lower back pain. Studies to date have shown that MED and PTED are safe and effective treatment modalities for LDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed in patients with LDH treated with MED (n=50) and transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED; n=36) in our hospital. All patients were followed-up with self-evaluation questionnaires, Oswestry disability index (ODI), medical outcomes study 36-item short form health survey and MacNab criteria. All the patients in both groups were followed up to 12 months after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ODI questionnaire responses were not statistically different between the MED and PTED groups (53.00 vs. 48.72) before treatment. Average scores and minimal disability after 5 days to 12 months of follow-up were 4.96 in the MED group and 3.61 in the PTED group. According to MacNab criteria, 92.0% of the MED group and 94.4% of the PTED group had excellent or good results with no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference between MED and PTED outcomes. Further large-scale, randomized studies with long-term follow-up are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinkemani
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zeng-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Su-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zan-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: Endoscopic discectomy; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Lumber disc herniation; Minimally invasive surgery