Complications of microendoscopic operation for degenerative disc diseases

English Keywords:Microendoscopic operation  Ｄegenerative disc disease  Ｍinimally invasion  Ｃomplication  Lumbar spine

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】　Objective：To summarize complications of microendoscopic orperation（METRx） for degenerative disc diseases and explore the way of prevention and treatment.Method：476 patients with lumbar degenerative disc diseases were treated by microendoscopic operation（METRx） from Dec. 2000 to Jun. 2008．There were 295 males and 181 females，with average age 36.5 years（range，22-73 years），including 228 cases of simple disc hernaition，112 with lateral recess stenosis，66 with spinal stenosis，63 with disc calicifaction and 9 with instability.Single segment involved in 415 cases，and double segments in 61 cases.135 patients were followed up at least two years.The complications in peri-operative period and at early or long-middle term in post-operative period were observed.Result：There were 38 patients with complication，the peri-operative rate of complication was 7.98%，including 2 subjects with localization error of the level and 17 with deviated tube，12 with disrupture of dural sac，4 with injury of nerve root or caudal nerve，one with rupture of greater artery.2 forceps of nucleus removal were ruptured.There were 5 subjects with early postoperative complications，including two subjects with nucleus omission，one subject with infection of intervertebral disc，incision and cerebrospinal meningitis，respectively.There were 6 subjects with medium-term complications after operation including four cases of nucleus pulposus recurrent and two cases of lumbar instability.The complications occurred in the first fifty cases of the microendoscopic operation accounted for 71.4% of total complications.The rate of peri-operative complications was 77.6%.Conclusion：There are some complications of microendoscopic operation for degenerative disc disease，which are related to surgeons′ experiences of METRx manipulation and the selection of the indications.