Yunhee Choi1, Chi Heon Kim2, John M Rhee3, Calvin C Kuo4, Urim Lee5, Sung Bae Park6, Chang-Hyun Lee7, Seung Heon Yang7, Kyoung-Tae Kim8, Chun Kee Chung9. 1. Medical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: chiheon1@snu.ac.kr. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4. Regional Spine Surgery Department, Kaiser Permanente, 3600 Broadway, Suite 15, Oakland, CA 94611, USA. 5. Human Brain Function Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Borame Medical Center 20, Boramae-ro 5-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 07061, South Korea. 7. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. 8. Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, South Korea. 9. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Human Brain Function Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) is a minimally invasive surgical option for recurrent lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Nonetheless, patients' clinical outcomes may be poorer after surgery for recurrent LDH than for primary LDH. Therefore, we compared patients' longitudinal clinical outcomes after FELD for recurrent LDH or primary LDH. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent FELD for primary LDH (group A) or recurrent LDH (group B) were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were: 1) single-level LDH or recurrent LDH at L4-5 or L5-S1, 2) age ≤60 years, 3) previous open discectomy (group B), and 4) ≥6 months of follow-up. In total, 244 patients (group A, 211; group B, 33) were included. Clinical outcomes (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]; visual analogue pain score for the back and leg [VAS-B] and [VAS-L]) over 24 months of follow-up were compared between groups with a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: All clinical outcomes significantly improved from pre-operation to 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.01), and the improvement was maintained for 24 months postoperatively in both groups. The clinical outcomes of groups A and B were not significantly different during 24 months follow-up (ODI, p = 0.94; VAS-B, p = 0.11; and VAS-L, p = 0.48). The reoperation rate was 3.3% in group A and 3.0% in group B, but the overall complication rate was higher in group B (9.8%) than in group A (6.6%). CONCLUSION: The longitudinal clinical outcomes after FELD for recurrent LDH may not be poor as feared. However, the higher complication rate in patients undergoing FELD for recurrent LDH should be noted.
OBJECTIVE: Full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) is a minimally invasive surgical option for recurrent lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Nonetheless, patients' clinical outcomes may be poorer after surgery for recurrent LDH than for primary LDH. Therefore, we compared patients' longitudinal clinical outcomes after FELD for recurrent LDH or primary LDH. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent FELD for primary LDH (group A) or recurrent LDH (group B) were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were: 1) single-level LDH or recurrent LDH at L4-5 or L5-S1, 2) age ≤60 years, 3) previous open discectomy (group B), and 4) ≥6 months of follow-up. In total, 244 patients (group A, 211; group B, 33) were included. Clinical outcomes (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]; visual analogue pain score for the back and leg [VAS-B] and [VAS-L]) over 24 months of follow-up were compared between groups with a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: All clinical outcomes significantly improved from pre-operation to 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.01), and the improvement was maintained for 24 months postoperatively in both groups. The clinical outcomes of groups A and B were not significantly different during 24 months follow-up (ODI, p = 0.94; VAS-B, p = 0.11; and VAS-L, p = 0.48). The reoperation rate was 3.3% in group A and 3.0% in group B, but the overall complication rate was higher in group B (9.8%) than in group A (6.6%). CONCLUSION: The longitudinal clinical outcomes after FELD for recurrent LDH may not be poor as feared. However, the higher complication rate in patients undergoing FELD for recurrent LDH should be noted.