Comparison Of Microendoscopic Discectomy And Open Discectomy In Treatment Of Lumbar Disc Herniation

[purpose]To compare the clinical effects,advantages and disadvantages of MED versus OD for lumbar disc herniation(LDH).[Methods] cases of LDH were analyzed from March 2012 to May 2014, among them, 25 cases were operated with MED and 23 cases were operated with OD. The surgical times, blood loss, length of incision, duration of hospitalization after operation, clinical effect at one year after operation and complications after operation were compared.[Results]There were no significant differences were found in the age,gender,section and course of disease between two groups. Blood loss is 31.72±77.34 ml,surgical times is 109.57±26.24 min,the length of incision is 2.02±0.20 cm and duration of hospitalization after operation is 7.04±1.47 d in MED group. And in OD group, blood loss is 107.61±160.03 ml, surgical times is 77.50±36.68 min,duration of hospitalization after operation is 8.21 ± 1.63 d and the length of incision is 4.83±1.11 cm.Surgical times were significantly longer, but blood loss, length of incision and duration of hospitalization after operation were significantly reduced in patients having MED than OD(P<0.05).The rate of excellent and good outcomes at one year after operation is 92.00% in MED group and it is 91.30% in OD group. The rate of complications is 4% in MED group and it is 13.04% in OD group. There were no significant differences were found in the rate of excellent and good outcomes and the rate of complications between the two groups(P>0.05).[Conclusion] MED has the advantages of trauma and postoperative recovery and the disadvantage of surgical times. Clinical effects and rate of complications is similar between MED and OD in treatment of lumbar disc herniation.