Full endoscopic lumbar decompression of spinal stenosis through uniportal approach: Technique and preliminary results

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate the certain advantages of full endoscopic lumbar decompression (FELD) surgery over conservative techniques in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Minimal invasive techniques have been introduced recently to treat lumbar spinal stenosis and gained popularity over conservative techniques because of the minimal tissue damage along with the satisfactory postoperative outcome. In our study, the FELD technique using a uniportal approach is described and investigated in accordance with the preliminary clinical results of patients who had degenerative spinal stenosis.

Methods: 55 patients who underwent FELD were retrospectively reviewed. General demographics and parameters including operation time, length of hospital stay, mean time to return to work, complications were recorded. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional assessment.

Results: The mean follow-up time was 36 months. There was no measurable intraoperative blood loss. The mean operating time was 97,4 minutes. The length of hospital stay after the operation was 27 hours on average. The difference between preoperative and postoperative VAS scores was statistically significant (p<0.001). No surgery-related complication was noted.

Conclusions: Amongst other standard techniques, FELD has the technical advantages of less paraspinal muscle dissection, less tissue trauma, less risk of spinal instability, minimal blood loss, quicker postoperative recovery and shorter length of hospital stay.