Comparative Study of Arthroscopic and Microscopic Discectomy of Lumbar Disc Herniation in Teenagers / 대한척추외과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare clinical results and radiologic changes after arthroscopic and microscopic discectomy of lumbar disc herniation in teenagers who have no degenerative change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan 1990 to Aug 2001. 70 lumbar disc herniations were performed in patients below 20 years old who were admitted to our department, among these 67 cases (49male, 18female) were evaluated for at least 1 year. Their aver-age age was 18.1 years (13 ~20 years). Forty-six received microscopic discectomy and 21 arthroscopic discectomy. Mean follow-up duration was 26.4 months (12 ~88 months). RESULTS: Clinical results and disc height change were compared between the arthroscopic and microscopic discectomy groups using the criteria of MacNab, and the relationship between disc height change and clinical results, excised disc volume, opera-tive technique, body mass index and symptom duration were investigated. Clinically there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.425), and their results were the same as those of adults. At the 1 year-follow up, disc height changes showed no correlation with the method of operation (p=0.996) or the volume of the excised disc. Postoperative disc height in teenagers of lumbar disc herniation who showed no degenerative change significantly decreased with time, but no significant relation was observed between disc height changes and clinical results, operative technique, excised disc volume, body mass index, involved disc site or symptom duration between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We believe that arthroscopic discectomy is an effective method, if the patients status permits, because it has the advantages of non-invasiveness, short hospitalization period and earlier return to normal life.