Background: Recurrent intervertebral disc herniation and an exacerbated degenerative process have been identified as the most important factors contributing to persistent pain and disability after surgical discectomy. Defects in the annulus fibrosus remain a surgical challenge, as the preference for minimally invasive surgical approaches for lumbar microdiscectomy, surgical access, and the specifics of anatomy limit the types of devices that permit annulus fibrosus repair. Furthermore, the intervertebral disc is a relatively avascular structure, and surgical procedures can accelerate the degenerative disc process. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of a novel microdiscectomy annular repair technique combined with an autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) intradiscal injection for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Methods: From July 2017 to December 2018 this study recruited 75 patients with LDH (single segment) and randomly divided these patients into the following three groups: group A, full endoscopic discectomy; group B: full endoscopic discectomy and annular repair; group C, full endoscopic discectomy annular repair and ACP intradiscal injection. The pre- and postoperative neurological function and pain status were evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) score and the Oswestry disability index (ODI). Patients were followed up once preoperatively, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.
Results: The procedure was successfully performed in all cases. No cases required conversion to an open procedure. The preoperative symptoms were alleviated significantly after surgery. The VAS scores for lower back and lower limb pain and ODI score were significantly difference at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months post operation compared to pre-operation scores (P<0.05). For VAS scores of the lower back, the difference between group A and group C was statistically significant (A>C), as was the difference between group B and group C (B>C).
Conclusions: Early results showed that the use of the novel full endoscopic annular repair technique and ACP intradiscal injection serial therapeutic model are beneficial for short term outcomes and demonstrates a reduction in symptomatic disc reherniation with low postoperative complication rates. This new serial therapeutic model may significantly improve the symptoms of postoperative lower back pain.
Keywords: Full-endoscopy; annular repair; autologous conditioned plasma (ACP); lumbar disc herniation (LDH).