Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgical Treatment for Postlaminectomy Lumbar Radiculopathy: Case Series.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe outcomes of awake transforaminal endoscopic surgical treatment for patients presenting with lumbar radiculopathy after laminectomy. METHODS: Awake endoscopic decompression surgery was performed on 538 patients over a 5-year period (2014-2019). Transforaminal endoscopic discectomy and foraminotomy was performed in 128 patients who had previously undergone laminectomy surgery. RESULTS: At 2-year follow-up, preoperative visual analog scale score for leg pain improved from 7.0 ± 1.4 to 2.0 ± 1.3 and Oswestry Disability Index score improved from 41.4% ± 11.9% to 12.4% ± 11.9% in 118 patients. During the 2-year follow-up period, 10 patients (7.8%) required repeat surgery at the treated level. CONCLUSIONS: The results of a minimally invasive awake endoscopic procedure are presented for the treatment of lumbar radiculopathy after lumbar laminectomy in a series of patients.