Anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy

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Anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy

Since the early 2000s, increasingly practical PECD techniques have been introduced because of advancements in working channel endoscope and surgical instrument technology 1) 2) 3) 4).

Anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) is an effective minimally invasive surgery for soft cervical disc herniation in properly selected cases 5) 6).

The PECD prototype is fluoroscopically guided percutaneous cervical disc decompression without endoscopic visualization, such as automated nucleotomy 7) 8).

Randomized controlled trials

Ahn et al. compared the surgical results of PECD and ACDF. Data from patients treated with single-level PECD (n = 51) or ACDF (n = 64) were analyzed. Patients were prospectively entered into the clinical database and their records were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative data and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and modified Macnab criteria. VAS and NDI results significantly improved in both groups. The rates of excellent or good results were 88.24% and 90.63% in the PECD and ACDF group, respectively. The revision rates were 3.92% and 1.56% in the PECD and ACDF group, respectively. Operative time, hospital stay, and time to return to work were reduced in the PECD group compared to the ACDF group (p < 0.001). The five-year outcomes of PECD were comparable to those of conventional ACDF. PECD provided the typical benefits of minimally invasive surgery and may be an effective alternative for treating soft cervical disc herniation 9).

A total of 103 patients with ACDF or FACD were followed up for two years. In addition to general parameters specific measuring instruments were used. Postoperatively 85.9% of the patients no longer had arm pain, and 10.1% had occasional pain. There were no significant clinical differences between the decompression with or without fusion. The full-endoscopic technique afforded advantages in operation technique, rehabilitation and soft tissue injury. The recorded results show that FACD is a sufficient and safe alternative to conventional procedures when the indication criteria are fulfilled. At the same time, it offers the advantages of a minimally invasive intervention 10).

References

1)

Chiu, J.C.; Clifford, T.J.; Greenspan, M.; Richley, R.C.; Lohman, G.; Sison, R.B. Percutaneous microdecompressive endoscopic cervical discectomy with laser thermodiskoplasty. Mt. Sinai. J. Med. 2000, 67, 278–282.
2)

Ahn, Y.; Lee, S.H.; Lee, S.C.; Shin, S.W.; Chung, S.E. Factors predicting excellent outcome of percutaneous cervical discectomy: analysis of 111 consecutive cases. Neuroradiology 2004, 46, 378–384.
3)

Ahn, Y.; Lee, S.H.; Shin, S.W. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy: clinical outcome and radiographic changes. Photomed. Laser Surg. 2005, 23, 362–368.
4)

Ahn, Y.; Lee, S.H.; Chung, S.E.; Park, H.S.; Shin, S.W. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy for discogenic cervical headache due to soft disc herniation. Neuroradiology 2005, 47, 924–930
5)

Lee, J.H.; Lee, S.H. Clinical and radiographic changes after percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy: a long‐term follow‐up. Photomed. Laser. Surg. 2014, 32, 663–668.
6)

Ahn, Y. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy using working channel endoscopes. Expert. Rev. Med. Devices 2016, 13, 601–610.
7)

Courtheoux, F.; Theron, J. Automated percutaneous nucleotomy in the treatment of cervicobrachial neuralgia due to disc herniation. J. Neuroradiol. 1992, 19, 211–216.
8)

Bonaldi, G.; Minonzio, G.; Belloni, G.; Dorizzi, A.; Fachinetti, P.; Marra, A.; Goddi, A. Percutaneous cervical diskectomy: preliminary experience. Neuroradiology 1994, 36, 483–486.
9)

Ahn Y, Keum HJ, Shin SH. Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy Versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Comparative Cohort Study with a Five-Year Follow-Up. J Clin Med. 2020 Jan 29;9(2). pii: E371. doi: 10.3390/jcm9020371. PubMed PMID: 32013206.
10)

Ruetten S, Komp M, Merk H, Godolias G. Full-endoscopic anterior decompression versus conventional anterior decompression and fusion in cervical disc herniations. Int Orthop. 2009 Dec;33(6):1677-82. doi: 10.1007/s00264-008-0684-y. Epub 2008 Nov 18. PubMed PMID: 19015851; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2899164.

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