OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty in treating migrated lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom June 2015 to January 2016, 25 patients with migrated lumbar disc herniation were treated with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty. A total of 14 males and 11 females, aging from 23 to 52 years old (average: 37.6) were enrolled in this study. Discectomy occurred in L₂,₃ of 1 case, L₃,₄ of 3 cases, L₄,₅ of 12 cases, L₅S₁ of 9 cases. Preoperative, 1-week and 1-year postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were collected to evaluate lower back and leg pain; Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) was used to assess the lumbar function.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12 to 19 months with an average of 15.2 months. The mean operation time was 108.6 min. No injury of dura, nerve root, or wound infection were found. Preoperative, 1-week and 1-year postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores of lower back pain were 5.8±0.5, 2.5±0.4, 0.9±0.2, respectively, with significant differences among each other(<0.05);VAS scores of leg pain were 7.1±0.6, 1.5±0.4, 0.7±0.6, respectively, with significant differences among each other(<0.05). Lumbar ODI scores were 69.2±1.8, 22.5±4.7, 10.2±2.4 at the above time points and showed significant differences among each other(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with target foraminoplasty for migrated lumbar disc herniation showed advantages of less injuries, bleeding and complication. It also promotes rapid recovery, being curative safely and effectively.