Management of lumbosacral nerve root anomalies under microendoscopic discectomy

Objective:To observe the lumbosacral nerve root anomalies in the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion undergoing microendoscopic discectomy(MED),and the prevention of nerve root injury.Method:A total of 724 patients(452 male and 272 female)with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion were treated with MED from October 1999 to December 2003.The clinical presentation and surgical procedure of each patient complicated with lumbosacral nerve root anomalies were analyzed statistically.Result:37 of 724 patients(rate 5.1%)were complicated with lumbosacral nerve root anomalies.All the 37 patients were operated under MED and the clinical presentation of these 37 patients were concident with their intraoperational findings.No nerve root injury was noted.Conclusion:It is very important to carefully explore the nerve root around the protruded intervertebral disc and determine the presence of nerve root anomalies with the purpose to prevent nerve root injury during MED.