A new study published in Spine examines the transpars microscopic approach for patients with purely foraminal herniated lumbar discs.
The study authors gathered data from 47 patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation between January 2012 and January 2015. Surgeons used the microscopic transpars approach and then employed clinical and radiological follow-up evaluations to track the patients' progress. The researchers found:
1. There were 35 patients who were still working when they had surgery, and 29 patients returned to work as well as their normal daily activities within 60 days of surgery.
2. The average NRS scores were significantly improved among the patients, who reported 8.93 initially and then 1.45 one year after surgery. The study authors found the Root palsy also improved significantly within one month of surgery.
3. Six months after surgery, none of the patients reported using steroids or opioids. However, 17 patients reported using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs when needed. Twenty-nine percent reported they didn't use any drugs for pain relief.
4. One year after surgery, 76.6 percent of the patients said they had excellent outcomes and another 17 percent reported good outcomes.
5. None of the patients reported spinal instability one year after surgery on the radiological evaluations. There were no recurrences at the one-year follow-up.
"Transpars microscopic approach is effective and safe for the treatment of FLDH, but larger studies are needed," concluded the study authors.