OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS technology for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

METHODSFrom February 2014 to May 2016, 21 patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis in elderly were treated with percutaneous endoscopic BEIS. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 70 to 85 years old with an average of 74.3 years. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were statistically analyzed. MacNab was used to assess the clinical effects.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. The time ranged from 90 to 130 min with an average of 110 min. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months with an average of 18 months. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative VAS scores were 8.47±1.23, 1.78±0.72, 0.68±0.32, and ODI scores were 32.48±10.03, 19.53±3.55, and 5.15±1.02, respectively. Postoperative scores of VAS and ODI were obviously improved(<0.05). According to modified MacNab standard to evaluate the clinical effects, 14 cases obtained excellent results, 5 good, 2 fair. Lower limb paresthesia occurred in 1 case, and the condition was restored at 3 months postoperatively with conservative treatment. One patient was complicated with emphysema before operation secondary to pulmonary infection, and was effectively controlled with regulate antibiotic therapy. No infection of vertebral body or intervertebral space, no injuries of blood vessels or nerve root, no tear of dura, or the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid were found.

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS is a safe and effective method for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.