A matched comparison of outcomes between percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and open lumbar microdiscectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: a 2-year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Although open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLMD) is considered to be the gold standard method for discectomy, recent progress in endoscopic spinal surgery has increased popularity of percutaneous discectomy (PELD) this indication. However, one main drawbacks PELD incomplete decompression, especially at start surgeon's learning curve. The functional outcomes and OLMD patients matched age, hernia level, location have not previously been compared. PURPOSE To compare with terms clinical outcome time recovery. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective, cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE Data all who underwent elective between January 2015 June 2017 were extracted from local database. OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical assessed using a 0-to-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) lower back pain (LBP) leg scored before postoperative day 1 each follow-up visit (3, 12, 24 months), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI: 0%–100%), length hospital stay, resumption work, recurrence Lumbar disc herniation, procedure failures, complications. METHODS participants herniated disk (central paracentral vs. far-lateral). participants’ mean±standard deviation age was 47.09±12.55 (range: 28–70). We compared various two groups identify which had better immediate long-term outcomes. differences mortality occurrence complications also versus controls. RESULTS Fifty-eight enrolled (29 29 OLMD). Both reported significant reductions LBP (p<0.01) postoperatively an improvement ODI months postsurgery. intergroup difference VAS 3 statistically (1.48 3.5, 1.62 2.72, respectively; p=0.01 0.026, respectively) but not. mean stay work significantly shorter group than (2.55 3.21 days, 4.45 6.62 weeks, p=0.037 0.01, respectively. There no complications, recurrence, or failures. CONCLUSIONS can provide equivalent, satisfactory demonstrated several potential advantages, including more rapid recovery early on. Further large-scale, randomized studies are now warranted.