Rohit Aiyer1, Selaiman Noori2, Frank Schirripa3, Michael Schirripa4, Sameer Jain5, Talal Aboud6, Neel Mehta7, Eric Elowitz8, Markian Pahuta9, Sukdeb Datta10. 1. Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. 2. Lakeside Spine & Pain, Lake Havasu, AZ 86403, USA. 3. Division of Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell & Columbia Campuses, New York, NY 10021, USA. 4. Department of Anesthesiology, New York-Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA. 5. Pain Treatment Centers of America, White Hall, AK 71602, USA. 6. Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. 7. Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA. 8. Department of Neurosurgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA. 9. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. 10. Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery & Pain Center, Professorial Lecturer, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Abstract
Aim: Endoscopic discectomies provide several advantages over other techniques such as traditional open lumbar discectomy (OLD) including possibly decreased complications, shorter hospital stay and an earlier return to work. Methods: An electronic database search including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Controlled trials (CENTRAL) were reviewed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only. Results: A total of nine RCTs met inclusion criteria. Three showed benefit of endoscopic discectomy over the comparator with regards to pain relief, with the remaining six studies showing no difference in pain relief or function. Conclusion: Based on review of the nine included studies, we can conclude that endoscopic discectomy is as effective as other surgical techniques, and has additional benefits of lower complication rate and superior perioperative parameters.
Aim: Endoscopic discectomies provide several advantages over other techniques such as traditional open lumbar discectomy (OLD) including possibly decreased complications, shorter hospital stay and an earlier return to work. Methods: An electronic database search including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Controlled trials (CENTRAL) were reviewed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only. Results: A total of nine RCTs met inclusion criteria. Three showed benefit of endoscopic discectomy over the comparator with regards to pain relief, with the remaining six studies showing no difference in pain relief or function. Conclusion: Based on review of the nine included studies, we can conclude that endoscopic discectomy is as effective as other surgical techniques, and has additional benefits of lower complication rate and superior perioperative parameters.