Feasibility and Success Rate of Lumbar Full-Endoscopic Discectomy: A Preliminary Report From a Military Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Disease and nonbattle injuries are common among deployed military forces and musculoskeletal disease is a leading burden of disease in military population. Consequently, military employees and veterans frequency need medical and surgical management for lumbar disc herniation. Because of considerable complications and long post operation rehabilitation period, minimal invasive procedures have substituted old techniques in many modern military hospitals. Case Presentation: In this study, the preliminary results of 30 operated cases with the full endoscopic lumbar disc herniectomy technique in a military hospital were presented for feasibility, complications and follow-up outcomes. Disc herniation was more frequent in left side, particularly in L5-S1 level. Three patients from the first 10 cases were converted to open surgery. No important complication was observed and all patients were pain free, had no complication after 1 and 2 months follow-up and returned to their work. Conclusions: We observed that the procedure is feasible and accompanied with an acceptable success rate, short hospital stay and very few perioperative and postoperative complications. It is an appropriate choice of treatment, even in combat region and moving hospitals and can reduce the morbidity of the disease.