Abstract:Objective To explore the safety and effectiveness of target puncture technology in the treatment of free prolapsed lumbar disc herniation (LDH) under the lateral approach foraminal.Methods A retrospective analysis method was used to summarize the clinical data of patients with free prolapse type lumbar disc herniation treated with target puncture technology and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy from June 2016 to June 2018. The operation time, hospital time, postoperative complications, visual analogue scale (VAS) of back pain, leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), postoperative complications, imaging data before and after surgery were recorded. Follow-up time is not less than 1 year. Statistical analysis were used with the changes of VAS score and ODI index of low back pain and leg pain at the last follow-up were compared before operation, 3 months after operation, and 1 year after operation, respectively.Results All 26 patients were followed up, including 14 males and 12 females. The average age was (39.269 ± 10.352) years, the average body mass index (BMI) was (22.731 ± 2.127) kg/m2, the average follow-up time was (18.192 ± 2.669) months, and the average hospital stay was (3.577 ± 0.902) days. The operation time was (72.521 ± 15.232) mins, and the intraoperative blood loss was (10.013 ± 3.004) ml. At 3 months, 1 year, and the last follow-up, the VAS score of low back pain and VAS score of lower extremity pain were significantly different from those before surgery (P < 0.05). The ODI scores at 3 months, 1 year, and the last follow-up, were statistically different from those before surgery (P < 0.05). No complications occurred, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, nerve injury, and infection. Re-examination of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) after surgery confirmed that all the free nucleus pulposus tissue had been removed. One patient had recurrence 1 year after the operation. The interlaminar approach was performed again to remove the prominent nucleus pulposus, and the postoperative recovery was satisfactory.Conclusions Targeted puncture technique can be used to obtain satisfactory clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of free prolapse type LDH by lateral approach.