[Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic foraminoplasty for simple lumbar spinal lateral exit-zone stenosis].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical effects of percutaneous endoscopic foraminoplasty for simple lumbar spinal lateral exit zone stenosis. METHODS A total of 36 patients with simple lumbar spinal lateral exit zone stenosis were admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to June 2018, and received selective nerve root canal radiography and radicular block. According to the symptoms and patients' personal wills, 22 cases underwent the one-stage percutaneous foraminal surgery(the one-stage operation group), and the other 14 patients were re-admitted to the hospital for operation(the delayed operation group) because of the recurrence of symptoms after discharge. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical effects before therapy, 1 day after the radicular block, and 1 day, 3 months and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS VAS and ODI of all 36 cases were obviously improved (P 0.05), but when compared with its own pretherapy andbefore readmission results, the difference was significant (P<0.05). There was no nerve injury in all cases. Only 2 cases were presented with the outlet root stimulation symptoms, and the symptoms relieved after short term conservative treatment. CONCLUSION The clinical effects of radicular block may be unsustainable for patients with simple lumbar spinal lateral exit zone stenosis. Instead, percutaneous endoscopic foraminoplasty was simple, safe and effective.