Solomon Kamson, MD, PhD, of Bothell, Wash.-based Spine Institute Northwest, presented findings from a five-year review of full-endoscopic assisted minimally invasive lumbar decompression in an outpatient setting.
The study included 178 patients undergoing lumbar decompression surgery through interlaminal and foraminal full-endoscopic assisted methods between 2011 and 2015. The patients suffered from lumbar degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy, foraminal stenosis or central canal stenosis
Researchers compared MIS with various spine surgery techniques in terms of OR time, complication rates, blood loss, leg and back visual analogue scale scores and patient satisfaction.
Pain Physician Journal published the study.
Here are six observations:
1. The study revealed the following ranges of overall complication rates:
• Open lumbar disc surgery: 5.3 percent to 20.7 percent
• Microendoscopic discectomy: 4 percent to 41.5 percent
• MIS: 5 percent to 15.4 percent
2. Full-endoscopic assisted lumbar discectomy studies reported a 16.6 percent overall complication rate.
3. While age impacts OR time, body mass index had no significant effect.
4. Ninety-five percent of patients lost less than 5 mL of blood during the procedures.
5. Eighty-eight percent of the patients would recommend their surgery and between 70 percent and 80 percent of patients were satisfied with their procedure.
6. Study authors concluded MIS is a safe and viable alternative to open back surgery.