Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Treating Cauda Equina Syndrome Due To Lumbar Disc Herniation

Abstract Background In recent decades, endoscopic techniques to treat lumbar disc herniation (LDH) have gained popularity in clinical practice. However, there is little literature on the use of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) to treat cauda equina syndrome (CES) due to LDH. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of PELD for treating CES caused by disc herniation, and as well as to report some technical strategies. Methods Between October 2012 and April 2018, 15 patients with CES caused by LDH at the early and intermediate stages of Shi’s classification were selected as the subjects of study, and underwent PELD. All patients were followed up for at least two years. The patients’ back pain and leg pain were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Patient satisfaction was evaluated using the MacNab outcome scale. Clinical outcomes were measured preoperatively and at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months and the last follow-up. Results The VAS score for back pain, leg pain and ODI score significantly decreased from preoperatively scores of 6.67 ± 1.05, 7.13 ± 1.19 and 62.0 ± 6.85 respectively, to postoperatively cores of 1.80 ± 0.41, 1.47 ± 0.52 and 12.93 ± 1.03 at the last follow-up postoperatively. These postoperative scores were all significantly different compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.01). According to the modified MacNab outcome scale, 86.67% of these patients had excellent and good outcomes at the final follow-up. Complications included one patient with cerebrospinal fluid leakage and one patient who developed recurrent herniation; the latter patient finally achieved satisfactory results after reoperation. Conclusion PELD could be used as an alternative surgical method for the treatment of CES due to LDH in properly selected cases and appropriate patient selection. However, the operator should pay attention to foraminoplasty to enlarge the working space.