Interventional Spine

George, Rappard, MD
Ali, Maziad, MD, Non ASSR Member
Majlis, Aasa, RN, Non ASSR Member
James, Thacker, MD, Non ASSR Member
John, Chiu, MD, Non ASSR Member

Paper/Non-Mentor

Purpose

Transforaminal and trans-spinal endoscopic micro-decompressive discectomy is a percutaneous method for achieving neural spinal decompression. This paper reviews the short term results of this procedure in a population of patients with degenerative disc disease, mechanical back pain and radiculopathy.

Methods & Materials

Over a 5 month period 13 consecutive patients underwent lumbar endoscopic transforaminal and trans-spinal micro-decompressive discectomy. In 8 patients pre-operative and post-operative VAS scores were available. All patients had failed greater than 3 months of conservative therapy and all procedures were carried out under conscious sedation. Micro-decompressive discectomy consisted of a mechanical transforaminal and trans-spinal intra-discal decompression under endoscopic and floroscopic guidance followed by Holmium laser intra-discal modulation. Pre-operative and post-operative VAS scores were measured for back and leg pain.

Results

The mean pre-operative VAS score for back pain was 8. The mean pre-operative VAS score for leg pain was 6. Over a mean follow up of 75 days, mean post-operative VAS score for back pain was 4 and mean post-operative VAS score for leg pain was 1.3.

Conclusion

Lumbar endoscopic micro-decompressive discectomy resulted in decreased mean VAS scores for back pain and leg pain over a mean follow up of 75 days. The effect on pain was more pronounced for radicular pain than it was for axial pain.

References/Financial Disclosures

Consultant: Codman neurovascular
Consultant: GE interventional Systems
Consultant: EV3 neurovascular