Comparison of bone reamer and trephine for foraminoplasty in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy based on 3D slicer and Digimizer software.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the applicability of bone reamer and trephine for foraminoscopy in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), and to provide a theoretical basis for foraminoplasty options in clinical practice. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study. Sixty-three consecutive patients who underwent PELD for lumbar disc herniation between May 2021 and July 2022 were analysed. Foraminoplasty were performed by bone reamer or trephine. The amount of bone removed and the foramen area enlarged during foraminoplasty by both tools were measured by 3D slicer and Digimizer software, and the numbers of fluoroscopic views were recorded. RESULTS: The bone reamer removed less bone in the Superior Articular Process (SAP) than the trephine (t = 17.507, P < 0.001), and the area enlarged by the bone reamer was smaller than that of the trephine (t = 10.042, P = 0.002). The overall numbers of fluoroscopic views were significantly more in the bone reamer group than in the trephine group (t = 19.003, P < 0.001). In the bone reamer group, when the area of preoperative (FPZ) was no less than 54.55 mm2, the mean number of fluoroscopic views significantly decreased (t = 14.443, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Bone reamer was safer and trephine was more efficient for foraminoscopy in PELD. An area of preoperative (FPZ) of 54.55 mm2 can be used as a critical value: bone reamer reduced the risk for cases above the value, while trephine improved the efficiency for cases less than the value.

[Overview of risk factors for failed percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy in lumbar disc herniation].

The lumbar disc herniation is a common and recurrent disease in the department of orthopedics. At present, the treatment means mainly include conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Compared with traditional open surgery, percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) is safe, effective, economical and minimally invasive. It is widely used in minimally invasive treatment of lumbar disc herniation. However, the clinical reports of the failure of PTED are also common. According to the research reports of domestic and foreign scholars, there are varieties of risk factors for surgical failures, including the selections of patients, indications, surgical approaches and anesthesia methods preoperative. Occurrences of surgical complications including infection or left pains, and reasonable rehabilitation exercise after the operation are related to failures. There is no unified conclusion at present. In this paper, we reviewed the literatures about failed PTED, and try to make an overview about the general situation of failed operation in clinical practice, the risk factors for failures and the countermeasures.