• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2016

Foraminal or extraforaminal Far Lateral Disc Herniations (FLDH) extending into or beyond the foraminal zone have been recognized as between 7-12% of all lumbosacral disc herniations. Conventional posterior laminectomy may not provide good access to a herniation that lies far lateral to the lateral margin of the pedicle. Use of the endoscopic technique through a percutaneous approach to treat such FLDH patients can decrease the surgical morbidity while achieving better outcomes. We made an effort to utilize the advantages of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and to determine the appropriate approach for FLDH at the level between the 5th Lumbar and first Sacral vertebrae(L5-S1). The authors present a case of an endoscopically resected lumbar extruded disc of the left extraforaminal zone with superior foraminal migration at the level of L5-S1, which had led to foot drop, while placing the endoscope in the anterior epidural space without facetectomy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.366-369
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• 2006

Objective : There are various surgical approaches to far-lateral lesions in the L5-S1 intervertebral space. Of these is the validity of a paramedian tangential approach is being investigated in this study. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients who had been diagnosed as having a far-lateral L5-S1 disc herniations, osteophyte, costal process hypertrophy, and had undergone a paramedian tangential approach from November 1999 through December 2003. The degree of symptoms and improvement were compared via the visual analog pain scale, before and after surgery. Results : This study included 4 males and 21 females with a mean age of $62{\pm}11.8$ years old. The average follow-up period after surgery was $8.2{\pm}2.7$ months. The visual analog pain scale taken before surgery was $6.7{\pm}1.1$ points, while the post-surgical scale was $2.4{\pm}0.9$ points showing a significant degrease [p < 005]. There were no complications that developed during surgery. Conclusion : A paramedian tangential approach is less invasive in the soft tissue than that of the median approach. This approach may effectively reduce nerve root compression and expand intervertebral foramens, and is devoid of the risk of spinal instability after surgery. The authors suppose that a paramedian tangential approach is quite an effective technique to relive compression in the far-lateral L5-S1 intervertebral space.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2000

Objective : Percutaneous lumbar approaches such as arthroscopic discectomy, laser discectomy, and nucleotome remain controversial and have technical limitations to free fragment disc, bony pathology and access to L5-S1, The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of this new endoscopic system and to report techniques and tactics. Methods : From July 1997 to May 1998, we treated 40 consecutive patients(43 levels) with the MED system. Mean age was 32 years(range ; 18 to 62). There were 30 males and 10 females. All patients had sciatica with SLRT limitation. There were 23 patients with disc herniation at L4-5 and 14 patients at L5-S1. Three patients had 2 level disc herniations. There was one far lateral disc herniation at L4-5. Results : Using modified MacNab criteria, there were 37 excellent results and 3 good result. Most patients were discharged within 3-4 days except 2 patients with dural tearing. There were no other complications. Mean operation time was 1.5 hours(range : 40 minutes to 2.5 hours). Conclusion : The MED system is a reliable approach to lumbar disc herniations. This system combines the advantages of conventional open surgery and a minimally invasive technique. As tactics for the doctors who wish to attempt, "palpate" the lamina by first dilator, identification of interlaminar space by removal of overlying soft tissue and confirmation of the shoulder portion of nerve root before discectomy are important to this procedure. We conclude that lumbar disc herniations can be successfully treated with MED approach.