Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for pediatric lumbar disc herniation and degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging: case series and literature review. Issue 1 (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Ruei-Hong; Chen, Hung-Chieh; Pan, Hung-Chuan; Chen, Hsien-Te; Chang, Chien-Chun; Tzeng, Chung-Yuh; Chen, Tse-Yu; Tsou, Hsi-Kai
• Is Part Of: Journal of international medical research. Volume 49:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Pediatric -- lumbar disc herniation -- percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy -- disc degeneration -- magnetic resonance imaging -- case series -- literature review; Medicine -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0300060520986685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0605

Abstract

Objective: Pediatric lumbar disc herniation (LDH), although uncommon, causes significant pain, discomfort, and sometimes disability. We examined the efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for pediatric LDH and the degree of lumbar disc degeneration at 1 year after PELD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of pediatric patients with LDH who underwent PELD from December 2007 to July 2018. The patients' symptoms, physical examination findings, clinical images, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and perioperative results (blood loss, length of hospital stay, and complications) were obtained from the medical records. Lumbar disc degeneration was graded using the modified Pfirrmann grading system at the 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Results: Six boys and four girls who underwent PELD were evaluated. The patients' mean age was 15.6 years (range, 13–17 years). The mean VAS score for low back pain, mean VAS score for lower limb pain, and mean ODI preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively were 6.2 and 0.3, 6.9 and 0.5, and 20 and 0.1, respectively. MRI showed significant disc degeneration after PELD. Conclusions: Treating pediatric LDH with PELD is safe and effective. It relieves pain and reduces disability. However, lumbar disc degeneration still occurs.