Background: A laparoscopic approach to the spine for the performance of a minimally invasive discectomy was first described in 1991. Since that time, a number of approaches to laparoscopic discectomy have appeared in the literature. Although these reports demonstrate the ability to approach the spine through a laparoscopic technique, they do not address the issues of loss of disc space, lumbar instability, and the need for interbody fusion.
Methods: Described is a technique of laparoscopic discectomy with interbody fusion that has been performed successfully in 75 patients. Although a carbon fiber implant was utilized to aid in the fusion process, the technique can equally be performed using donor bone as the interbody support. In the 75 patients attempted, 73 procedures were successfully completed via the laparoscopic approach. One patient was converted to an open anterior approach due to extensive pelvic adhesions from prior surgery. A second patients procedure was aborted after the diagnostic laparoscopy demonstrated dense presacral scarring from a previous gynecological procedure.
Results: There were no major complications in the series. Two patients with high riding bladders sustained bladder lacerations that were recognized and repaired with simple suture closure. There were no bowel injuries, and more importantly, no major vessel injury. The patients were discharged from the hospital on an average within 36 hours, with a return to work averaging between 2-4 weeks depending on the patients type of work. Using a modified pain score for evaluation, post operative pain was reduced by 75%.
Conclusions: From this study, it is concluded that laparoscopic discectomy with interbody fusion is not only feasible, but appears to give good results with follow up extending out beyond two years. Issues regarding the use of carbon fiber cages vs. bone and indications of the procedure are independent of the laparoscopic approach and are addressed extensively in the orthopedic literature. It can be concluded that when there is surgical indication for L5-S1 discectomy, that a laparoscopic approach with interbody fusion may become the procedure of choice.