Risk Factors for Recurrence After Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A Meta-Analysis

Postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disc increases the physical damage and financial burden on patients and negatively affects physicians' treatment decisions. We conducted this meta-analysis to explore the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disc for lumbar disc herniation. We conducted article search in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. PRISMA guidelines were followed in this review. The data are statistically analyzed by the Roundup Manager (version 3.6.1). The results of the meta-analysis are presented in the form of forest-like plots. We included 13 articles and identified 7524 cases. Patients with older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–1.40), higher body mass index (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05–1.28), smoker (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 0.95–3.15), degenerative grades ≥3 (OR = 6.07, 95% CI: 2.81–13.11), and postoperative sagittal motion ≥10° (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.63–3.58) have a higher recurrence rate. A thorough preoperative evaluation is essential to prevent postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. The study addresses several factors of preoperative evaluation, which is hopeful to provide a reference for neurosurgeons.