Surgery Related Complications in Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy under Local Anesthesia

The minimally invasive percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) as the postero-lateral approach with the local anesthesia was started in the late 20th century. The procedure only requires 8 mm of skin incision; thus, it is the least invasive disc surgery presently. The surgery related complications were reviewed in the initial 100 cases from the single surgeon (K. S., first author). Two cases showed exiting nerve irritation, and complained of leg paresthetic pain for 6 to 12 weeks after the surgery (2.0%). The symptoms got better with medicines. One showed post-surgical epidural hematoma, and required surgical removal of the mass (1.0%). Two cases complained neck pain during surgery (2.0%). Surgeons would be aware of the specific complications for the postero-lateral approach of PED procedure.