BACKGROUND: Transmuscular tubular diskectomy has been introduced to increase the rate of recovery, although evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 2-year results of tubular diskectomy... Show moreBACKGROUND: Transmuscular tubular diskectomy has been introduced to increase the rate of recovery, although evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 2-year results of tubular diskectomy compared with conventional microdiskectomy. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-eight patients with persistent leg pain caused by lumbar disk herniation were randomly assigned to undergo tubular diskectomy (167 patients) or conventional microdiskectomy (161 patients). Main outcome measures were scores from Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for Sciatica, Visual Analog Scale for leg pain and low-back pain, and Likert self-rating scale of global perceived recovery. RESULTS: On the basis of intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference between tubular diskectomy and conventional microdiskectomy in Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for Sciatica scores during 2 years after surgery (between-group mean difference [Delta] = 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3-1.6). Patients treated with tubular diskectomy reported more leg pain (Delta = 3.3 mm; 95% CI, 0.2-6.2) and more low-back pain (Delta = 3.0 mm; 95% CI, 20.2-6.3) than those patients treated with conventional microdiskectomy. At 2 years, 71% of patients assigned to tubular diskectomy documented a good recovery vs 77% of patients assigned to conventional microdiskectomy (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.45-1.28; P = .35). Repeated surgery rates within 2 years after tubular diskectomy and conventional microdiskectomy were 15% and 10%, respectively (P = .22). CONCLUSION: Tubular diskectomy and conventional microdiskectomy resulted in similar functional and clinical outcomes. Patients treated with tubular diskectomy reported more leg pain and low-back pain, although the differences were small and not clinically relevant. Show less
BACKGROUND:: Transmuscular tubular discectomy has been introduced to increase the rate of recovery, although evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the 2-year results of tubular discectomy... Show moreBACKGROUND:: Transmuscular tubular discectomy has been introduced to increase the rate of recovery, although evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the 2-year results of tubular discectomy compared with conventional microdiscectomy. METHODS:: 328 patients with persistent leg pain due to lumbar disc herniation were randomly assigned to undergo tubular discectomy (167 patients) or conventional microdiscectomy (161 patients). Main outcome measures were scores from Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for Sciatica (RDQ), visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg pain and low-back pain, and Likert self-rating scale of global perceived recovery. RESULTS:: Based on intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference between tubular discectomy and conventional microdiscectomy in RDQ scores during 2 years after surgery (between-group mean difference (Δ) = 0.6; 95% CI, -0.3 to 1.6). Patients treated with tubular discectomy reported more leg pain (Δ = 3.3 mm; 95% CI, 0.2 to 6.2 mm) and more low-back pain (Δ = 3.0 mm; 95% CI, -0.2 to 6.3 mm) than those patients treated with conventional microdiscectomy. At 2 years, 71% of patients assigned to tubular discectomy documented a good recovery versus 77% of patients assigned to conventional microdiscectomy (odds ratio 0.76; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.28; P=0.35). Repeated surgery rate within 2 years after tubular discectomy and conventional microdiscectomy was 15% and 10%, respectively (P=0.22). CONCLUSION:: Tubular discectomy and conventional microdiscectomy resulted in similar functional and clinical outcome. Patients treated with tubular discectomy reported more leg pain and low-back pain, although the differences were small and not clinically relevant. Show less
