Full-Endoscopic Extraforaminal Approach for Extraforaminal Herniated Intervertebral Disc Disease: Exploring Challenging Case

Abstract

Extraforaminal lumbar disk herniation (E-LDH) constitutes a challenging subset of lumbar disk herniations. Minimally invasive methods like full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy provide benefits but carry risks of complications, such as postoperative dysesthesia and nerve root injury. A 62-year-old male with comorbidities presented with severe leg pain due to left L3/4 E-LDH. An L3 nerve block, guided by fluoroscopy, was performed with the patient in a right decubitus position. After alleviating the pain, the patient was placed in a prone position to undergo the extraforaminal full-endoscopic procedure under local anesthesia. The tip of the needle was targeted to the base of the superior articular process (SAP). Foraminoplasty was precisely performed with a high-speed diamond burr at the base of the SAP, facilitating the removal of the extraforaminal portion of the herniated disc. The procedure yielded immediate relief (visual analogue scale score reduced from 10 to 0). There was no leg pain or associated back pain at the 6-month follow-up. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of an extraforaminal full-endoscopic technique for E-LDH, overcoming challenges associated with the uncooperative patient due to the severe leg pain. However, the technique demands technical proficiency and warrants further research to establish its broader applicability.