Risk Factors for Early Recurrence After Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Disc Decompression.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar disc decompression (TELD) has emerged as a treatment alternative to open lumbar discectomy, but rates of herniated lumbar disc (HLD) recurrence after TELD are higher by comparison. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to identify factors correlating with early HLD recurrence after TELD. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: The Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Neurosurgery at Spine Health Wooridul Hospital. METHODS: As a retrospective review, we examined all patients undergoing TELD between 2012 and 2017, analyzing the following in terms of time to recurrence: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbid conditions (diabetes mellitus [DM], hypertension [HTN]), smoking status, nature of disc herniation (central, paramedian, or foraminal), Modic changes, migration grade (rostral vs. caudal track + degree), herniated disc height (Dht) and base size (Dbase), and the presence of spondylolisthesis on magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, 1,900 patients underwent TELD procedures, resulting in 209 recurrences (11.0%). In 27 of these patients (12.9%), herniation recurred within 24 hours after surgery. Recurrences most often developed within 2-30 days (n = 76). The smaller the size of a herniated disc, the earlier it recurred. Recurrences were unrelated to gender, BMI, DM or HTN, smoking status, migration grade, nature (Dht or Dbase of herniated disc), or the presence of spondylolisthesis. LIMITATIONS: In addition to variables assessed herein, other clinical and radiologic parameters that may be important in recurrent disc herniation should be included. Furthermore, only univariate analyses were performed, making no adjustments for potential confounders, therefore, independent risk factors could not be assessed. A prospective study would likely generate more precise results, especially in terms of standardized sampling and data classification. Finally, multiple causes for primary discectomy failures may have rendered our patient groups nonhomogeneous, and inequalities in surgical options or physician-dictated surgical choices may have had an effect. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing TELD procedures, smaller-sized herniated discs are linked to early recurrences. KEY WORDS: Disc herniation, lumbar, endoscopic, recurrence, early.

Fracture of the L-4 vertebral body after use of a stand-alone interbody fusion device in degenerative spondylolisthesis for anterior L3-4 fixation.

Many studies attest to the excellent results achieved using anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis. The purpose of this report is to document a rare instance of L-4 vertebral body fracture following use of a stand-alone interbody fusion device for L3-4 ALIF. The patient, a 55-year-old man, had suffered intractable pain of the back, right buttock, and left leg for several weeks. Initial radiographs showed Grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis, with instability in the sagittal plane (upon 15° rotation) and stenosis of central and both lateral recesses at the L3-4 level. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion of the affected vertebrae was subsequently conducted using a stand-alone cage/plate system. Postoperatively, the severity of spondylolisthesis diminished, with resolution of symptoms. However, the patient returned 2 months later with both leg weakness and back pain. Plain radiographs and CT indicated device failure due to anterior fracture of the L-4 vertebral body, and the spondylolisthesis had recurred. At this point, bilateral facetectomies were performed, with reduction/fixation of L3-4 by pedicle screws. Again, degenerative spondylolisthesis improved postsurgically and symptoms eased, with eventual healing of the vertebral body fracture. This report documents a rare instance of L-4 vertebral body fracture following use of a stand-alone device for ALIF at L3-4, likely as a consequence of angular instability in degenerative spondylolisthesis. Under such conditions, additional pedicle screw fixation is advised.

Intraoperative discography for detecting concealed lumbar discal cysts.

Lumbar discal cyst is a rare cause of radiculopathy. Their exact pathogenesis and the optimal treatment modality remain unidentified. Depending on their location, discal cysts cannot always be easily identified intraoperatively. We describe 2 patients with discal cysts and introduce an intraoperative discography technique for discal cyst location. Both patients were treated with surgical excision; with intraoperative discography, the cystic lesions could easily be detected and removed.