Comparison between minimally invasive surgery and traditional laminectomy in the resection of schwannoma of lumbar vertebra

Objective: To explore the application, advantages and disadvantages of minimally invasive surgery for lumbar schwannoma. Methods: this study was a prospective, non-randomized controlled study with a trial group (minimally invasive surgery group) and a control group (traditional laminectomy group).For the patients with lumbar schwannoma hospitalized in the neurosurgical spinal ward of Beijing Tian Tan hospital, the surgeon communicated with them one-on-one to inform the patients of the advantages and disadvantages of minimally invasive surgery through channels and traditional laminectomy. After the surgical risks and their respective advantages and disadvantages were identified, patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery to remove tumors through the channel were admitted to the channel surgery group according to the wishes of the patients; otherwise, patients who underwent traditional laminectomy were included in the control group. From December 2017 to March 2019, a total of 15 patients (experimental group) were treated with minimally invasive surgery. A total of 15 patients with tumors similar in size and location to those in the experimental group were selected from the control group who were hospitalized during the same period for traditional laminectomy. Relevant clinical data of the two groups of patients were collected and analyzed, including preoperative lesion imaging characteristics, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications, symptom improvement, etc. Results: the operating time of the experimental group and the control group was (157+/-27) min and (158+/-29) min, respectively (P=0.897). Intraoperative blood loss was (66+/-27) ml and (110+/-43) ml, respectively (P=0.020). The mean hospital stay was (7.60+/-1.29) days and (11.67+/-1.23) days, respectively (P=0.000). Postoperative JOA scores were 26.73+/-2.84 and 26.60+/-2.41, respectively (P=0.891). Postoperative VAS scores were 0.40+/-1.12 and 0.27+/-0.71, respectively (P=0.699).The mean blood loss and hospital stay in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, the difference in operation time between the two groups was not significant, and there was no difference in neurological function results. Conclusion: In certain types of lumbar schwannoma tumors (non-giant tumors), minimally invasive resection through channels has the advantages of less surgical trauma, less bleeding, faster recovery and definite curative effect, which is a safe and effective surgical treatment.