ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the efficacy of endoscopic microdiscectomy versus conventional discectomy for lumbar spine disc disease.

Study Design: Randomized control trial

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Neurosurgery, Indus Medical College Tando Muhamad Khan from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.

Methodology: Seventy patients of both genders were enrolled. Patients detailed demographics age, sex, body mass index and age between 18-70 years were recorded. Patients were divided in two equal groups. Group I patients underwent for endoscopic microdiscectomy and group II received conventional discectomy. The patients with low back pain radiating to the legs and prolapsed intervertebral discs at the L5-S1 and L4-L5 levels on MRI. Post-operatively effectiveness was observed between both groups, by using Oswestry Disability Index in follow up of 10 months.

Results: There were 34 (48.6%) female patients and 36 (51.4%) male patients. Mean age of the patients were 48.32± 6.44 years and mean body mass index was 26.14±3.23 kg/m2. Significantly no difference was observed between age and body mass index. Patients who had prolapsed disc at L4-5 levels were 26 (37.14%) and 44 (62.86%) patients had prolapsed disc at L5-S1. Mean post-operative Oswestry Disability Index in group I was 21.14±54 and in group II was 24.16±3.31. Mean post-operative vas in group I was 3.5 and in group II was 5.7. In group I hospital stay, blood loss and complications were observed less as compared to group II.

Conclusion: Both endoscopic microdiscectomy and conventional discectomy was effective and safe procedures. But conventional discectomy was found less effective as compared to endoscopic microdiscectomy in terms of rapid mobilization and postoperative pain.

Keywords: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Lumbar disc prolapse, Endoscopic discectomy, Visual Analog Score (VAS)