Decompression For Lateral Recess Stenosis Research Articles

Pain improvement and reoperation rate after full-endoscopic decompression for lateral recess stenosis: a 10-year follow-up

PurposeTo share long-term clinical outcomes and our experience with full-endoscopic interlaminar decompression (FEI) for lateral recess stenosis (LRS).MethodsWe included all patients who underwent FEI for LRS from 2009 to 2013. VAS for leg pain, ODI, neurological findings, radiographic findings, and complications were analyzed at one week, one month, three months, and one year postoperation. The telephone interview for local patients with simple questions was done approximately ten years after the operation. International patients receive an email with the same questionnaire as local patients during the same follow-up period.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent FEI for LRS with complete data during 2009–2013. Most of the patients (70.54%) had LRS radiculopathy for less than one year, mainly L4-5 (89.92%), followed by L5-S1 (17.83%). Early outcomes three months after surgery showed that most patients (93.02%) reported significant pain relief, and 70.54% reported no pain at their ODI scores were significantly reduced from 34.35 to 20.32% (p = 0.0052). In contrast, the mean VAS for leg pain decreased substantially by 3.77 points (p < 0.0001). There were no severe complications. At ten years of follow-up, 62 patients responded to the phone call or email. 69.35% of the patients reported having little or no back or leg pain, did not receive any further lumbar surgery, and were still satisfied with the result of the surgery. There were six patients (8.06%) who underwent reoperation.ConclusionFEI for LRS was satisfactory at 93.02%, with a low complication rate during the early follow-up period. Its effect seems to decline slightly in the long term at a 10-year follow-up. 8.06% of the patients subsequently underwent reoperation.

Outcome of lumbar lateral recess stenosis with percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression in patients 65 years of age or older and in younger patients.

Lateral recess stenosis is a common pathology causing clinical syndromes in the elderly population, and there is some concern regarding the number of comorbidities that can occur when performing surgery for this condition in the elderly. However, little research has focused on the issues related to older age, and limited data is available to help the clinician counsel elderly patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression. The present study aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression for lumbar degenerative disease in elderly patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis and to determine whether age and comorbidity affect the outcome and complication rate.We identified 117 patients in our patient database who underwent percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression for single-level lumbar lateral recess stenosis. Data regarding the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale for back and leg pain were collected preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Other data, including preoperative comorbidities, operation time, and intraoperative and postoperative complications, were recorded.The average follow-up period was 29.9 ± 5.5 months, with a mean age of 69.8 ± 5.4 years in elderly patients (group A) and 50.4 ± 6.4 years in younger patients (group B). Group A had a higher percentage of comorbidity than group B (83.9% vs 18.0%, P < .001). Both visual analog scale scores for leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index were significantly improved in the 2 groups, and no difference was found between the groups regarding both parameters (P >.05). The elderly patients had the same high rate of favorable outcomes as group B (P > .05). Moreover, there was no difference in surgical complications, recurrence, and neurologic deficit recovery rate between both groups. No major complications or perioperative deaths occurred in both groups.The present study demonstrates that percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal decompression for lateral recess stenosis in elderly patients may be a reasonable treatment associated with substantial benefit.