Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy offers sustained pain relief and functional improvement in elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation.
According to a retrospective study led by Ying Chen et al., percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) is a safe and effective surgical option for treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in patients over the age of 70. The findings highlight remarkable improvements in both pain levels and functional outcomes following the procedure, offering reassurance about the benefits of PED in an aging population.
The study included 132 patients aged 70 years and older, with an average age of 75.31 years, all of whom experienced radicular pain or signs of nerve root compression due to LDH. Each patient underwent PED under either local or general anesthesia. Researchers evaluated the outcomes via the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before surgery and at multiple follow-up intervals: 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery.
The results revealed a consistent and remarkable reduction in both VAS and ODI scores after surgery. Improvements in pain were evident as early as 3 days after surgery and remained significant through the 6-month follow-up. While the difference in VAS scores between 6 and 12 months was not statistically significant, ODI scores continued to illustrate meaningful improvements up to 1 year after the procedure. Importantly, no surgery-related complications or recurrences of LDH were reported within the 12-month follow-up period.
These findings support the use of PED as a minimally invasive and well-tolerated intervention in elderly patients battling LDH. The results demonstrate its ability to remarkably reduce pain and disability while maintaining a favorable safety profile.
Clinical Spine Surgery
Clinical Efficacy of Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation in Patients Over 70 Years Old
Ying Chen et al.
Comments (0)