Endoscopic Transforaminal versus Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy in Management of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications

Abstract

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Lumbar herniated discs are common manifestations of degenerative spine diseases, being the main cause of radiated lower back pain. Conservative treatment with anti-inflammatory and physical therapy provides relief of pain in a significant proportion of patients, and surgery is indicated in nonresponsive patients after at least six weeks of conservative treatment to avoid irreversible structural changes in the nerve roots due to chronic compression. Surgery provides 85-95% of good and excellent results in the short-term postoperative period. The surgical treatment includes a great variety of options either open or minimally invasive techniques. Minimally invasive spine surgery, particularly lumbar endoscopy, has fully complied with the philosophy of nowadays surgery. It establishes a new way of thinking, which aims to reduce to the minimum, the surgical procedure that would still allow the preservation of function and natural structure of the body, without forgetting the main objective of the treatment, which is, relief for low back pain.