Far Lateral Disk Prolapsed: a Preliminary Experience by Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

Abstract

Background:The endoscopic approach has been introduced in the clinical practice in 1980 with the aim to remove the prolapsed disk and free the compressed nerve using the least disruptive surgical technique and assuring the resolution of the symptoms and a faster return back to full life activities.Methods: We retrospectively selected 22 patients operated on for a far lateral lumbar disk prolapsed between January 2011 and December 2016. Thirteen underwent a far lateral microsurgical approach while the rest, nine, a far lateral endoscopic approach.Results: After surgery all the patients were fine with an improvement of the symptoms by Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index. One patient had to be operated again for persistent pain secondary to an unsatisfactory disk removal. All patients went home within four days and at a median follow up of 12 months (range between 7 and 17 months) all patients had improved and were back to a normal life. Conclusion:The endoscopic procedure is safe, effective and may become the treatment of choice for any type of lumbar disk prolapsed including also the far lateral location.

The Italian Landscape of Spine Endoscopy: Are We Ready for the Challenges of the Future?

“…Apart from Germany, European countries have only recently and hesitatingly considered endoscopic spine surgery as a valuable alternative to traditional techniques [8,9]. Italy is no exception: only in the last few years have spine surgeons started exploring and taking an interest in full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) [10][11][12].…”