The Primary Outcome of a Prospective Study: Nucleoplasty with Endoscopic Microdiscectomy

Author(s): Habeeb M Alhaboubi, Abdulrahman K Abuhaimed, Mahdi Bassi

Purpose: Evaluation of combined endoscopic microdiscectomy with Radiofreqent ablation Nucleoplasty where it is predicted to show more satisfying short-term outcome.

Study Design: A consecutive cohort of 23 patients with lumbar discogenic back pain who underwent Nucleoplasty with endoscopic microdiscectomy. Outcome measurements evaluating pain intensity and functional disability were completed preoperatively, at 1 months, at 6 months, and at the 1-year follow-up visit.

Methods: All cases (N=23) following up with confirmed diagnosis of contained lumber discogenic back pain, who failed conservative treatment and fulfilled the criteria for surgical intervention, then underwent endoscopic microdiscectomy with nucleoplasty, and followed up by regular clinic visits for a period of one year maximum. Primary outcome variables that are going to be used in the research is Visual analogue scale (out of 10) and the Oswestry disability index (out of 100).

Results: Of the 23-patient cohort, the 1 year follow up rate was at 100%. The mean VAS for low back pain preoperatively, postoperatively, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year were 9.17, 6.04, 4.57, 2.02 respectively. The functional assessment was evaluated using ODI and showed a mean of 52.75 preoperatively, and 34.96 at 1 month post operatively, 29.30 at 6 months post operatively, and 16.96 at year post operatively.

Conclusion: In this minimal invasive approach, Nucleoplasty with Endoscopic Microdiscectomy, it showed promising short-term outcomes with less post-operative pain, hospital stay, minimal blood loss and no reported post-operative complication which can be an alternative option to the standard open Microdiscectomy.

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