Surgeons Learning Curve of Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy for Sciatica.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Full-endoscopic spine surgery is gaining interest as a less-invasive alternative to treat sciatica caused by a lumbar disc herniation. Concerns, however, exist with the learning curve as percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) appears to be more difficult to be performed compared to other techniques. In this study, the clinical outcomes during and after the learning curve are presented of 3 surgeons naïve to PTED.

Methods

In the first phase of a randomized controlled, noninferiority trial comparing PTED with microdiscectomy, 3 surgeons were trained in the PTED-procedure by a senior surgeon. After performing up to 20 cases under supervision, they started performing PTED on their own. Results of the early cases were compared to the later cases (>20).

SUBMITTER: Gadjradj PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9537830 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature