Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy versus Open Decompression Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) and open decompression discectomy (ODD) in the treatment of single-segment L4/5disc herniation. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping, Jiang’an District, Wuhan, Hubei, China, from January to December 2021. Methodology: Using random number table allocation, 94 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH, at level L4/5) received were divided into two groups of 47 patients each in the control group treated with ODD and 47 patients in the observation group treated with TELD. The perioperative-related indexes, VAS score, ODI index, modified Macnab evaluation criteria, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The incision length in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, the amount of intraoperative blood loss was less than that in the control group, and bedtime and hospital stay were shorter than that in the control group, but the operation time was longer than that in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p <0.01). The VAS score, ODI index, and incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at 7d, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, while modified Macnab evaluation criteria of lumbar function recovery were higher than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (p <0.01). Conclusion: TELD is safe and effective for patients with LDH, which can relieve postoperative pain and help restore lumbar function.