OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) combined with epidural injection for prolapsed lumbar disc herniation(PLDH).

METHODSIn this prospective randomized controlled study, the clinical data of 126 patients who had undergone a PELD because of a single-level PLDH from March 2014 to June 2015 were analyzed. There were 67 males and 59 females, ranging in age from 17 to 75 years old with an average of(41.0±13.5) years old, 9 cases were L₃,₄, 76 cases were L₄,₅ and 41 cases were L₅S₁. According to the random number table, the patients were randomized into two groups, with 63 patients in each group. Patients in group 1 were injected normal saline after PLED, patients in group 2 were subjected to an epidural injection of Diprospan, Lidocaine and Mecobalamine after PLED. All the patients were followed up from 6 to 20 months with the mean of 12.4 months. Complications, the postoperative hospital stay, the period of return to work, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score were compared between two groups, and clinical outcomes were evaluated according to modified MacNab criteria.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful, and no complications were found. The mean postoperative hospital stay and the period of return to work in group 1 were (4.61±1.25) days and (4.31±0.47) weeks, respectively, and in group 2 were (2.53±0.69) days and (3.14±0.52) weeks, there was significant differences between two groups(=0.000). Postoperative VAS and JOA scores in two groups were obviously improved (=0.000). At 1 day, 1 week, 1 month after operation, VAS, JOA scores in group 2 were better than that of group 1(=0.000), and after 6 months, there was no significant difference between two groups(>0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 39 cases got excellent results, 21 good, 3 fair in group 1, and which in group 2 were 41, 20, 2, respectively, there was no significant difference between two groups(=0.087).

CONCLUSIONSPELD is an mini-invasive technique for PLDH, it can fleetly reduce pain and improve function. And combination with epidural injection has the advantages of pain releasing and function improving in the short-term postoperative period, and it can decrease postoperative hospital stay and time of returning to work, and it is a safe and effective method.