Abstract:Objective To explore the short-term outcome of percutaneous transforaminal approach microendoscopy for central lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Methods From June 2013 to August 2015, 32 cases were diagnosed with central lumbar spinal canal stenosis in the First Affiliated Hospoital and Ruikang Hospoital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. These patients underwent percutaneous transforaminal approach spinal endoscopy for spine canal enlargement and discectomy as well as decompression of nerve root canal by the same surgeon team. The short-term outcome of all patients were evaluated using the VAS scores of lower back pain and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and a modified Macnab criterion. Results The operation was successfully completed on 31 patients, 1 case who could not tolerate pain changed to have open surgery. The duration of the operation was 45-130 min. The intraoperative fluoroscopy was performed 4-16 times. The intraoperative blood loss was 5-25 ml. Of the 32 patients, 31 patients were followed up for a mean duration of (14 ± 5) m (ranging 10- 25 m). The lower back pain VAS scores before operation, immediately after operation, 3 months after operation and 1 year after operation were (5.8 ± 1.1), (2.6 ± 1.0), (2.5 ± 0.9) and (2.2 ± 0.8) separately. The preoperative lower back pain VAS score was statistically different from the postoperative VAS scores (P < 0.05). The leg pain VAS scores before operation, immediately after operation, 3 months after operation and 1 year after operation were (5.9 ± 1.4), (2.5 ± 1.0), (2.3 ± 0.7) and (2.3 ± 0.8) separately. There were significant differences between the preoperative leg pain VAS score and different postoperative leg pain VAS scores (P < 0.05). The ODI was (72.6 ± 14.8)%, (28.2 ± 11.6)%, (26.6 ± 9.4)% and (21.8 ± 6.2)% separately before operation, immediately after operation, 3 months after operation and 1 year after operation. There were statistical differences between the preoperative ODI and different postoperative ODIs (P < 0.05). Using the modified Macnab criterion, the short-term outcome was excellent in 11 patients, good in 15 patients, fair in 4 patients and poor in 1 patient; the excellent and good rate was 83.9%. And 1 patient (3.2%) underwent open surgery 3 months after the operation. Conclusions Percutaneous transforaminal approach microendoscopy is effective and has the advantages of small wound, little blood loss and quick recovery in treatment of central lumbar spinal canal stenosis, the short-term outcome is satisfactory, while the long-term therapeutic effect needs to be further observed.