Introduction: EasyGO system offers the elegant opportunity to combine microsurgical skills with spinal endoscopic surgery. This provides superior cosmetic results, less damage of soft tissue damage and faster recovery for the patients. The authors present now their first results of endoscopic lumbar disc removal through a 15 mm trocar.
Methods: Thirty patients with lumbar disc herniation and accordant clinical symptoms underwent 31 endoscopic discectomies through the EasyGO orange working sheath with a diameter of 15 mm between 2009 and 2012. All surgeries were video documented and afterwards subsequently analyzed. Clinical follow-up was recorded in our outpatient clinic. In this retrospective analysis our focus was on outcome, complications and cosmetic appearance.
Results: Twenty-seven patients showed clinical and neurological improvement after surgery. It was necessary to switch to a bigger trocar in two cases and to microscope in one case. Complication rate stayed low with no injury of dural sack or nerve root, one re-prolaps occurred after eight days. The main part of the patients could be discharged from hospital three days after surgery. Skin incision stayed minimal with 1.2 to 1.4 cm.
Conclusions: Lumbar disc removal is sufficient and safe by using the orange tube with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome for the patients. Complication rate is low. Endoscopic discectomy through the orange trocar in adequate patients should be the goal for minimally invasive spinal endoscopy in the lumbar spine.
Patient Care: Less soft tissue trauma and superior cosmetic results with excellent clinical outcome
Learning Objectives: Minimally invasive treatment in lumbar disc prolaps
References: A new endoscopic spine system: the first results with "Easy GO". Oertel JM, Mondorf Y, Gaab MR.
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