Effect of microendoscopic surgery on the lumbar spinal stenosis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of microendoscopic surgery in treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods Twenty patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis were treated with microendoscopic dis-cectomy by using the METRx microendoscopie spinal system. A fenestration of lamina, removal of ligamentum flavum and part of the facet were performed endoscopically,to obtain the complete decompression of dural sac and bi-lateral nerve roots. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the modified functional scoring system. Results For thisgroup patients,the mean operation time was 112min,mean operative blood loss was 90ml,and mean duration of hos-pital-stay was 10.1 days. In the mean follow up of 9 months,15 cases were excellent,2 good and 3 fair based on the modified functional scoring system. Conclusion Microendoscopic spinal surgery is a safe, effective and ideal decom-pressive surgical method for lumbar spinal canal steneais. Key words: Endoscopes; Spinal stenosis