Meta-analysis of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy vs. fenestration discectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

The aim of this study was to systematically review the efficacy of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) and fenestration discectomy (FD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, and Wanfang Data for all relevant studies. All statistical analyses wer performed using Review Manager version 5.3. Dichotomous data were calculated by odds ratio (OR) and continuous data were calculated by mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

A total of 17 articles with 1390 study subjects were included, with 733 patients in the PTED group and 657 patients in the FD group. The results of the meta-analysis showed that postoperative the visual analog scale (VAS) score (mean difference [MD] −0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.22 to −0.03; P = 0.009) and postoperative complications (MD 0.52; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.04; P = 0.06) showed no significant differences between the PTED group and the FD group, while the PTED group had significantly better results in operation time (MD 0.47; 95% CI −11.34 to 12.28; P = 0.94), length of incision (MD −3.74; 95% CI −4.28 to −3.19; P < 0.00001), amount of bleeding (MD −63.66, 95% CI −77.65 to −49.67; P < 0.00001), time of postoperative bed rest (MD −90.19; 95% CI −106.82 to −73.56; P < 0.00001), hospitalization time (MD −5.90; 95% CI −7.21 to −4.59; P < 0.00001), and postoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) score (MD −0.59; 95% CI −1.11 to −0.08; P = 0.02) compared with the FD group.

The Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy is associated with better postoperative ODI score, better results in length of incision, lower blood loss, shorter operation time, postoperative bed time and hospitalization time. The complications did not differ significantly between PTED and FD in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. These findings provide evidence to support PTED is efficacious for LDH; however, scar repair of a ruptured anulus fibrosus needs a long time and the patients undergoing PTED should be advised to stay in bed for a long time even if the symptoms are markedly relieved. These results are not limited to randomized controlled trials and lack data about the long-term outcome.