RESUMO
Objective To study the complications of translaminar microendoscopic discectomy and their prevention and management. Methods The complications of translaminar microendoscopic discectomy performed on 487 cases of lumbar disc herniations were retrospectively analyzed. Results Most of the complications were seen in the first 50 cases, which included intraoperative CSF leak (8 cases, 1.64% ), cauda equina damage (1 case,0.21%) nerve root damage (1 case,0.21%) and inflammation of intervertebral disc (1 case,0.21%). Three patients (0.62%) converted into standard open lumbar disc surgery because epidural bleeding was difficult to control under endoscope. Conclusions There is a direct correlation between the compliations and the clinical experience in this technique. The complications of translaminar microendoscopic discectomy at the early stage are significantly higher than those of open techniques, but they are rarely seen at the later stage.
