In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis by a research group from Australia and published in the European Spine Journal, the complication rates of different discectomy techniques were compared.
Studies were selected, which indicated a comparison between one of the minimally invasive surgical techniques (microendoscopic discectomy (MED), percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD), percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD)), the tubular discectomy (comparison group) and / or the open discectomy / microdiscectomy (OD / MD) (control group) for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients.
Conclusions
Compared with the OD/MD, results of this meta-analysis suggest that PELD has a lower risk of overall complications and a lower risk of complications necessitating conservative treatment.
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