Comparing surgical approaches to lumbar disc herniations

2017 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 1003-1003
Author(s):  
Jean-Valery Coumans
2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schulz ◽  
U. Kunz ◽  
U. M. Mauer ◽  
R. Mathieu

Background. To compare the early postoperative results of three surgical approaches to lumbar disc herniations that migrated cranially. Minimally invasive techniques such as the translaminar and endoscopic transforaminal approaches are utilized in patients with lumbar disc herniations to gain access to cranially located disc material and to avoid the potentially destabilizing resection of ligament and bone tissue, which is associated with an extended interlaminar approach.Methods. This retrospective study compares the postoperative pain and functional capacity levels of 69 patients who underwent an interlaminar (Group A,n=27), a translaminar (Group B,n=22), or an endoscopic transforaminal procedure (Group C,n=20).Results. Median VAS scores for leg pain decreased significantly from before to after surgery in all groups. Surgical revisions were required in thirteen cases (five in Group A, one in Group B, and seven in Group C;P=0.031). After six weeks, there were significant differences in back pain and functional outcome scores and in the results for the MacNab criteria but not in leg pain scores.Conclusions. The interlaminar and translaminar techniques were the safest and fastest ways of gaining access to cranially migrated disc material and the most effective approaches over a period of six weeks.


1995 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E. Epstein

✓ This study was undertaken to determine and compare indications and relative benefits of various surgical approaches in 170 patients (average age 55 years) with far-lateral herniated lumbar discs, identified by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computerized tomography (CT) and operated on between 1984 and 1994. Essentially three surgical procedures were performed: complete facetectomy in 73 patients, laminotomy with medial facetectomy in 39 patients, and intertransverse discectomy (also known as ITT) in 58 patients. Follow-up periods averaged 5 years (range 0.5–10 years). Outcomes were scored as excellent (no deficit), good (mild radiculopathy), fair (moderate radiculopathy), and poor (unchanged or worse). Overall, excellent and good results were achieved in 73 and 51 patients, respectively, and fair and poor results in 26 and 20, respectively. There was little difference among the results encountered for the three major surgical groups: 79% of the intertransverse (ITT) group had good-to-excellent outcomes, as compared with 70% of the facetectomy group, and 68% of the group who underwent at minimum laminotomy, and additional hemilaminectomy or laminectomy with medial facetectomy. Results were the same for the 121 patients followed for more than 2 years and for the 49 patients studied for under 2 years. In the management of far-lateral discs, total facetectomy provides the best exposure, but increases the risk of instability. Laminotomy and medial facetectomy uncover the lateral and subarticular recess and preserve stability, but visualization of the far-lateral compartment is often inadequate. The intertransverse approach offers extensive far-lateral but not medial intraforaminal exposure, while also preserving stability. Full facetectomy, laminotomy with medial facetectomy, and the intertransverse approaches yielded nearly comparable outcomes in far-lateral disc surgery. Only the full facetectomy exposes the entire course of the nerve root both medially and laterally, whereas the intertransverse procedure provides direct exposure of the far-lateral compartment alone. It is important to select the correct approach or combination of approaches to address attendant complicating factors such as spinal stenosis, spondyloarthrosis, and degenerative spondylolisthesis identified on CT and MR studies.


2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Le ◽  
Faheem A. Sandhu ◽  
Richard G. Fessler

Object Experience with minimal-access surgical approaches for revision lumbar surgery has not been previously reported. Methods During a 7-month period, 10 consecutive patients with recurrent disc herniations underwent revision operations in which microendoscopic discectomy (MED) was performed. Perioperative data and clinical outcomes (according to Macnab criteria) were compared with those obtained in 25 consecutive patients who underwent routine single-level MED as well as with previously published data. Overall, outcome of the MED-treated revision group was excellent or good in 90% during a mean follow-up period of 18.5 months (minimum 12 months). Operative blood loss, duration, complications, and length of hospital stay were not significantly different between the revision and primary MED-treated groups. Conclusions Analysis of these early data suggests equivalent or superior results are obtained when performing MED compared with historical controls in which conventional surgery was conducted for recurrent disc surgery. The procedure appears to be a safe and effective alternative in cases in which recurrent lumbar disc herniation causes radiculopathy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-407
Author(s):  
Demet Ucar ◽  
◽  
Sedat Duman ◽  
Yusuf Bayram ◽  
Bekir Yavuz Ucar ◽  
...  

In this study, we would like to draw attention to the advanced disc diseases seen in young people. The objective is to investigate the reasons for the increasing trend of disc herniations in young people. A total of 33 young patients with extruded lumbar disc herniations managed by conservative or surgical approaches between 2017 and 2018 were included. The average patient age was 25 years. Smoking, familial predisposition, sporting activity, and the occupation of the patients were questioned and noted. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the efficacy of pain. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. All patients were subjected to lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. Eighteen patients (8 females, 10 males) had disc extrusion at the L5-S1 level, whereas 12 patients (8 females, 4 males) had disc extrusion at the L4-L5 level. Three other patients had disc extrusion at the level of both L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. Motor deficits were detected in four patients, and surgical treatment was required and performed. The other 29 patients were treated conservatively. Young non-sport-oriented patients may face severe disc herniations. Understanding how spine degeneration can affect the likelihood of developing a herniated disc can help people make small lifestyle changes to postpone any serious pain and deficits. While aging is unavoidable, simple lifestyle changes can help improve overall spine health and deter the risk of developing a degenerative spine condition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 155 (12) ◽  
pp. 2333-2338 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gempt ◽  
M. Jonek ◽  
F. Ringel ◽  
A. Preuß ◽  
P. Wolf ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 159 (7) ◽  
pp. 1273-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Lofrese ◽  
Lorenzo Mongardi ◽  
Francesco Cultrera ◽  
Giorgio Trapella ◽  
Pasquale De Bonis

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shawky Abdelgawaad ◽  
Dusko Babic ◽  
Ahmed Ezzat Siam ◽  
Ali Ezzati
Keyword(s):  

1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph C. Maroon ◽  
Thomas A. Kopitnik ◽  
Larry A. Schulhof ◽  
Adnan Abla ◽  
James E. Wilberger

✓ Lumbar-disc herniations that occur beneath or far lateral to the intervertebral facet joint are increasingly recognized as a cause of spinal nerve root compression syndromes at the upper lumbar levels. Failure to diagnose and precisely localize these herniations can lead to unsuccessful surgical exploration or exploration of the incorrect interspace. If these herniations are diagnosed, they often cannot be adequately exposed through the typical midline hemilaminectomy approach. Many authors have advocated a partial or complete unilateral facetectomy to expose these herniations, which can lead to vertebral instability or contribute to continued postoperative back pain. The authors present a series of 25 patients who were diagnosed as having far lateral lumbar disc herniations and underwent paramedian microsurgical lumbar-disc excision. Twelve of these were at the L4–5 level, six at the L5–S1 level, and seven at the L3–4 level. In these cases, myelography is uniformly normal and high-quality magnetic resonance images may not be helpful. High-resolution computerized tomography (CT) appears to be the best study, but even this may be negative unless enhanced by performing CT-discography. Discography with enhanced CT is ideally suited to precisely diagnose and localize these far-lateral herniations. The paramedian muscle splitting microsurgical approach was found to be the most direct and favorable anatomical route to herniations lateral to the neural foramen. With this approach, there is no facet destruction and postoperative pain is minimal. Patients were typically discharged on the 3rd or 4th postoperative day. The clinical and radiographic characteristics of far-lateral lumbar-disc herniations are reviewed and the paramedian microsurgical approach is discussed.


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