functionality status and surgical outcome of fenestration versus laminotomy discectomy in patients with lumbar disc herniation

background & aim: to assess functionality status and surgical outcome of fenestration versus laminotomy technique based on core outcome measures index (comi) in patients with lumbar disc hernia (ldh). methods & materials/patients: a cross-sectional study was performed between january 2007 and april 2012. a total of 108 patients with a single-level disc herniation were asked to respond to the oswestry disabiltiy index (odi) and comi at two points in time: pre- and post-operative assessments. the odi and comi were assessed comparing patients’ pre- and postoperative scores to determine the functionality status and surgical outcome. results: the mean age of patients was 52.4 (sd=10.1) years who underwent fenestration (n=45) or laminotomy discectomy (n=63). the mean clinical follow-up was 27.8 (sd=3.6) months (range 24 - 37 months). regarding comi scores, all subgroup values showed statistical significance pre- and postoperative indicating improvements on the outcomes and functionality. the change in the odi after surgery was strongly correlated with change in the comi, (r=0.79; p<0.001). the odi score also was found to be statistically different between the groups in pre-and postoperative (p<0.001) assessment. however, the functionality status rate was similar in both groups. conclusion: the findings suggest that fenestration or laminotomy discectomy is an efficacious procedure for treatment of ldh. however, both methods are equally effective in surgical outcome.