Clinical outcomes for patients with lateral lumbar radiculopathy treated by percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy versus tubular microdiscectomy: A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND

Surgical management of lateral lumbar radiculopathy is evolving. TMD (Tubular microdiscectomy) and TELD (Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy) have emerged as viable MIS treatments. We aim to compare clinical outcomes of both techniques for the treatment of lateral lumbar radiculopathy in relation to pre-operative lumbar foraminal stenosis grade (LFS).

METHODS

Retrospective observational cohort study of patients with back and leg pain from single level foraminal nerve root compression that underwent TMD or TELD. Data analyzed included pre- and post-operative VAS leg and back pain, MacNab clinical outcome scores, hospital length of stay, complication rates, and operative time. Outcomes were correlated with a pre-operative MRI grading system for LFS.

RESULTS

109 patients were enrolled (71 TELD and 38 TMD). Back and leg VAS pain scores improved in TELD and TMD (p < 0.0001). Patients with grade III stenosis showed significantly higher VAS scores (p < 0.01), and worse functional outcomes at latest follow-up compared with grade I/II LFS. Overall, there was no difference in outcome between procedure groups except that TMD VAS back pain scores were lower than TELD at last follow up (p < 0.05). Clinical outcome comparisons between procedures relating to LFS grade showed higher correlation of LFS to TELD (Spearman's rho (ρ)= 0.342 for TMD and 0.606 TELD). Regression analyses demonstrated correlation between higher-grade foraminal stenosis and poorer outcomes in TELD and TMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Both TELD and TMD are viable for treating lateral lumbar radiculopathy. Higher-grade foraminal stenosis can be indicative of poorer outcomes regardless of procedure type, however, the severity of pre-operative LFS correlates with clinical outcomes in TELD more significantly than TMD.