Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of far-lateral lumbar disc herniations in children

All patients were discharged to home on the same day of surgery. The average leg VAS score improved from 8.6 ± 1.6 to 2.1 ± 0.4 (p < 0.005). Six patients had excellent outcomes, five had good outcomes, one had fair outcomes, and none had poor outcomes, according to the Macnab criteria. Eleven of 12 patients had excellent or good outcomes, for an overall success rate of 91.6 %. No patients required re-operation. There were no incidental durotomies, infections, vascular or visceral injuries. There was one complication, a case of leg numbness caused by ganglion injury. The numbness improved after two weeks. After three months, it was obvious that the total area of numbness in the legs had become smaller. At last follow-up, the patient had no pain, and only a few areas with numbness remained and did not affect the patient’s activities of daily living.