An open drainage is feasible for lumbar endoscopic surgery

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of open drain in Microendoscopic laminotmy (MEL) for lumbar spinal canal stenosis were examined. The subjects: 176 patients who underwent MEL. The closed drainage group (closed group: 76 cases), the open drainage group (open group: 100 cases). There was no infection, and one emergency operation with acute epidural hematoma was seen in the closed group. The average postoperative bleeding was significantly higher in the open group than in the closed group. The degree of compression of the dural sac was lower in the open group than in the closed group. Lower limb pain occurred more frequently in the open group. In this study, open drainage was suitable for MEL.