Full Endoscopic Decompression for Single Level Lumbar Stenosis: A Clinical Evaluation

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of full endoscopic decompression for single level lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Methods:This observational study was conducted on a total of 370 patients selected by purposive sampling from January 2022 and December 2023, presenting with symptoms more than 3 months and non-responding to conservative treatment.  The procedure was performed by placing the patient on a radiolucent Wilson frame with single-shot epidural analgesia. Outcome was measured in terms of pain reduction using Visual analog scale (VAS) before and after surgery, at 3^rd, 6^th month, and functional outcome was assessed using the Modified MacNab criteria at 6^th month,

Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.1 years, with 63% male. The most common stenosis level was L4-L5 (36.5%). The mean operation duration was 53 minutes, and the postoperative complications were minimal. Significant improvement in pain levels was observed, with back pain reduced from a preoperative mean of 3.2 to 1.1 at six months, and leg pain from 7.2 to 1.0 (p < 0.001). According to the Modified MacNab criteria, 91.1% of patients reported excellent outcomes at six months, and 8.4% reported good outcomes.

Conclusion: Full endoscopic decompression is a highly effective and safe method for treating lumbar spinal stenosis, providing substantial pain relief and excellent functional outcomes with minimal complications.

J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2023; 15(1): 3-7