The purpose of the study was a comparative analysis the effectiveness of microsurgical discectomy and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of disk herniation adjacent to the anomaly of the lumbosacral junction segment in elderly patients. The study included 80 elderly patients (over 60 years old), divided into two groups: the 1st-(n=39) who underwent microsurgical discectomy; the 2nd- patients (n=41) operated on using minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion and percutaneous transpedicular stabilization (MI-TLIF). For the comparative analysis, we used gender characteristics (gender, age), constitutional characteristics (BMI), degree of physical status according to ASA, intraoperative parameters of interventions and the specificity of postoperative patient management, clinical data, and the presence of complications. Long-term outcomes were assessed at a minimum follow-up of 3 years. As a result, it was found that the use of MI-TLIF allows achieving better long-term clinical outcomes, fewer major complications in comparison with the microsurgical discectomy technique in the treatment of disc herniation adjacent to the anomaly of the lumbosacral junction segment in elderly patients.
Цель исследования — сравнительный анализ эффективности использования микрохирургической дискэктомии и минимально инвазивного трансфораминального спондилодеза при лечении грыж межпозвонковых дисков смежного с аномалией пояснично-крестцового перехода уровня у пациентов старшей возрастной группы. В исследование были включены 80 пациентов пожилого возраста (старше 60 лет), выделено две группы: 1-я — пациенты (n=39), которым выполняли микрохирургическую дискэктомию; 2-я — пациенты (n=41), прооперированные с использованием минимально инвазивного трансфораминального межтелового спондилодеза, чрескожной транспедикулярной стабилизации (MI-TLIF). Для сравнительного анализа использовали гендерные характеристики (пол, возраст), конституциональные особенности (ИМТ), степень физического статуса по ASA, интраоперационные параметры вмешательств и специфичность послеоперационного ведения пациентов, клинические данные, наличие осложнений. Оценку отдаленных исходов проводили в минимальном катамнезе 3 лет. В результате установлено, что использование MI-TLIF позволяет достичь лучших отдаленных клинических исходов, меньшего числа серьезных осложнений в сравнении с методикой микрохирургической дискэктомии при лечении грыж межпозвонковых дисков смежного с аномалией пояснично-крестцового перехода уровня у пациентов старшей возрастной группы.

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative pain control and functional outcome between full-endoscopic interlaminar approach (FEIA) and open minimally invasive microsurgical technique (MMST) for lumbar discectomy.
METHODS: All consecutive patients treated with FEIA were prospectively followed. Clinical outcome parameters (low back and leg numeric rating scale and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale) were measured. Analgesics use after surgery was quantified. Results were compared with a cohort of patients treated in the same period with MMST. The decision regarding which surgical technique to use was based on endoscope availability only.
RESULTS: There were 26 patients treated with FEIA and 18 treated with MMST. Baseline patient characteristics were comparable. Sciatic pain was treated in both groups. Postoperative back pain was significantly lower in the FEIA group (numeric rating scale scores 1.5, 0.3, and 0.2 at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after FEIA vs. 3.6, 2.4, and 1.6 after MMST). In the FEIA group, 61.5% of patients did not take any pain medication. The average number of analgesics taken within 30 days was 4.0 in the FEIA group and 27.2 in the MMST group. The average Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale score decreased from 57.7 to 25.0, 18.0, and 14.2 at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after FEIA compared with a decrease from 58.8 to 41.1, 34.7, and 23.0 in the MMST group. No approach-related complications were reported.
CONCLUSIONS: With less analgesic use, back and leg pain relief after 1 week in the FEIA group was comparable to that achieved in the MMST group after 1 month. This was also true for overall ability of patients to perform daily activities.