To describe technical details and benefits of transforaminal endoscopic discectomy for treatment of patients with large, dorsomedial, calcified thoracic disc herniations at 2 levels and to report on their clinical outcomes in long follow-up period of 5 years using 4 different outcome tools. We present 2 patients with large, calcified disc herniations at 2 levels in mid and lower thoracic spine treated endoscopically in local anesthesia. Clinical outcomes were analyzed using verbal numeric scale (VNS), Roland-Morris low back pain and disability questionnaire (RMQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria at 6-, 12-, 24-, 60-month follow-up. After transforaminal endoscopic discectomy, both patients had significant postoperative reduction of back pain using VNS and significant outcome improvement using ODI, RMQ score, and modified MacNab criteria. These results did not change during all 4 follow-up periods. Transforaminal percutaneous full-endoscopic discectomy and hand reamers foraminotomy in local anesthesia is feasible and effective surgical technique for patients with large, calcified thoracic disc herniations at 2 levels even in long follow-up period of 5 years using 4 different outcome measuring tools. All 3 outcome measuring tools correlated well with pain reduction using VNS.
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Objective To investigate the utility of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) in surgical treatment of recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH).
Methods Forty-five patients were prospectively studied. All patients were subjected to FELD for RLDH. They were assessed preoperatively and in regular intervals at 6 weeks and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Evaluation was conducted with visual analogue scale for leg (VAS-LP) and low back (VAS-BP) pain. Short-Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire was utilized for health-related quality of life assessment.
Results All studied parameters featured statistically significant amelioration at all follow-up intervals. Maximal improvement was in general at 6 weeks observed, with subsequent lesser improvement until 6 months and stabilization until the end of follow-up. Comparative assessment indicated that VAS-BP displayed quantitatively lower improvement, whereas physical function, bodily pain, and role-emotional parameters demonstrated greater amelioration.
Conclusion FELD is associated with a favorable impact in postoperative daily life of patients with RLDH.
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