OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical effects of percutaneous endoscopic technique via three different approaches for highly migrated lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 68 patients underwent percutaneous endoscopic technique from June 2011 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 43 males and 25 females, aged from 11 to 77 years old with an average of (42.29±15.92) years. The patients were divided into three groups according to different operative approaches, of them, 45 cases were by transforaminal approach (group A), 15 cases by translaminar approach (group B), and 8 cases by transpedicular approach (group C). There was 1 case in level L₂,₃, 12 cases in L₃,₄, 36 cases in L₄,₅, 19 cases in L₅S₁. The herniated disc was migrated superiorly in 23 patients, inferiorly in 45 patients. MRI were available to confirm migrated disc pre-and post-operatively. Operation time, loss blood volume, intraoperative and postoperative complications, time of back to work (postoperative recovery time) were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative VAS were used to evaluate low back pain and sciatica and JOA and MacNab criteria were used to evaluate functional recovery.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful and all the patients were followed up from 12 to 40 months with an average of (18.0±15.9) months. Seven patients(3 cases in group A, 3 cases in group B, 1 case in group C) complicated with transient paraesthesia (hyperalgesia or hypesthesia), and the symptoms relieved after symptomatic treatment with neurotrophic medicine, at final follow-up, no symptoms were left. One case in group B complicated with dura mater tearing during operation and it was untreated, there was no resulted complications such as headache and sinus tract of skin. In group A, B, C, the mean VAS score of sciatica improved from preoperative 6.93±1.34, 6.33±1.23, 6.13±1.73 to 0.80±0.87, 0.73±0.70, 0.38±0.52 at final follow-up; and JOA score improved from preoperative 9.09±2.62, 9.80±2.31, 10.50±2.93 to 26.82±1.53, 25.93±1.58, 26.50±1.51 at final follow-up, respectively(<0.05). There was no significant difference among three groups(>0.05). There was no significant difference in loss blood volume, postoperative recovery time among three groups. But operation time of group B was shorter than other two groups. According to MacNab criterion to assess the clinical effects, 42 cases got excellent results, 21 good, 5 fair.

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous endoscopic technique is a safe and effective method for surgical treatment of highly migrated herniation. The decision of operative approach should be made by characters of anatomy. By tanspedicular approach the lesion could be found directly. However, it depends on good skill and equipment.