Consequences of failed transforaminal endoscopic discectomy

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a very important treatment method and has a good effect on the treatment of many diseases. At the same time, there are risks when using perforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy for treatment. Like other surgical treatments, failure can cause great harm. We need to understand the consequences of failed perforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy and be fully prepared mentally when receiving treatment. Let’s take a closer look below.

If the operation is wrong, it is easy to damage the spinal nerves and cause serious consequences. The perforaminal endoscopic view is similar to a spinal endoscope and is a lighted tube that enters the intervertebral foramen from the side or back of the patient's body (either flatly or obliquely) to perform surgery in the safe working triangle. When surgery is performed outside the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc, the protruding nucleus pulposus, nerve roots, dura mater sac and hyperplastic bone tissue can be clearly seen under direct endoscopic vision. Then various types of forceps are used to remove protruding tissue, bone is removed under the microscope, and radiofrequency electrodes are used to repair damaged annulus fibrosus. The operation has little trauma: the skin incision is only 7mm, the size of a soybean, the bleeding is less than 20ml, and only one stitch is needed after the operation. It is a minimally invasive treatment for intervertebral disc herniation with the least trauma to patients and the best effect among similar surgeries.

Adapt to the crowd

The selection criteria for transforaminal or endoscopic microdiscectomy are not fundamentally different from those for laminectomy and discectomy. Patients with herniated disc who choose minimally invasive surgery must present with signs and symptoms of nerve root compression and meet the following criteria:

1. Persistent or recurrent radicular pain;

2. Radicular pain is more severe than low back pain. Patients with moderate or lower bulges whose back pain symptoms are greater than leg pain can first undergo low-temperature plasma nucleoplasty;

3. Strict conservative treatment is ineffective. Conservative treatment is recommended for at least 4-6 weeks, including the use of steroidal or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, physical therapy, and occupational or conditioning programs, but if progressive neurological symptoms occur, immediate surgery is required;

4. No history of drug abuse or mental illness;

5. Straight leg raising test is positive, but bending is difficult;

6. In order to accurately determine the location and nature of the protruding or prolapsed nucleus pulposus, as well as the condition of intervertebral foraminal bone hyperplasia, a thorough imaging examination should be performed before surgery. CT and MRI, in particular, are important means to accurately determine the size, location and nature of the nucleus pulposus.