Planned Four-stage Transforaminal Full-endoscopic Lumbar Decompression under Local Anesthesia in a Patient with Severe Comorbidity

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented with symptoms of intermittent claudication. A diagnosis of lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) at L3/4 and L4/5 was made based on the clinical and radiological findings. Bilateral lateral recess stenosis was detected at both these levels on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and on computed tomography (CT) scans obtained after myelography. Four nerve roots were impinged bilaterally at L4 and L5. The initial plan was to perform conventional laminectomy at L3/4 and L4/5 under general anesthesia. However, the neurologists pointed out that the patient had comorbidities of parkinsonism and severe carotid artery stenosis, meaning that an increase or decrease in blood pressure during general anesthesia could cause a stroke. Therefore, we changed the surgical plan to four-stage full-endoscopic ventral facetectomy at L3/4 and L4/5 bilaterally under local anesthesia. There were no surgery-related complications after any of the four operations. The patient’s symptoms improved after the final operation and the modified MacNab criteria indicated a good clinical outcome. Full-endoscopic lumbar decompression surgery under local anesthesia may be effective in elderly patients who are in poor general health.

Introduction

Full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) requires only an 8-mm skin incision and causes minimal damage to the back muscles. Therefore, it is suitable for professional athletes¹⁾ and allows a rapid return to work postoperatively.^2,3) FESS may be performed via a transforaminal (TF) or interlaminar approach.⁴⁾ In general, interlaminar FESS requires general anesthesia, whereas TF-FESS can be performed under local anesthesia.⁵⁾ A procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia is desirable in elderly patients, especially those in poor general health.

TF-FESS was first used for lumbar discectomy 20 years ago.^6–8) Since then, an ultra-thin high-speed surgical drill that can be used in a small working space had become available,^9,10) allowing surgeons to perform decompression for spinal canal stenosis by FESS. Initially, foraminal stenosis was decompressed by full-endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy (FELF) using a TF full-endoscopic system.^11,12) More recently, it has become possible to decompress lateral recess stenosis via a TF approach^3,5,13) known as TF full-endoscopic ventral facetectomy (FEVF). Both TF-FELF and TF-FEVF can be performed under local anesthesia, meaning that patients who are unsuitable for general anesthesia can undergo these procedures.

Here we report the case of an elderly patient in poor general health in whom we performed successful four-stage FEVF for bilateral lateral recess stenosis at L3/4 and L4/5.

Case Report

A 74-year-old man who had been treated for Parkinson’s disease at our neurology department was referred to us with a history of both leg pain and neurogenic intermittent claudication for several years. He was using a wheelchair to mobilize outside his home because of his leg pain at L4 and L5. There was no muscle weakness or sensory disturbance in either leg. His Achilles and patellar tendon reflexes were essentially normal. Tension signs, including the femoral nerve stretch and straight leg raise tests, were negative.

Magnetic resonance scans at the initial presentation revealed bilateral lateral recess stenosis at L3/4 and L4/5 on axial images with no central stenosis seen on a sagittal image (Fig. 1). The findings on computed tomography (CT) scans obtained after myelography were similar to those on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All four nerve roots at L4 and L5 were impinged by lateral recess stenosis (Fig. 2). Therefore, we initially planned to perform traditional laminectomy at L3/4 and L4/5 under general anesthesia to treat this pathology.

Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance scans acquired at the initial presentation. Bilateral lateral recess stenosis is evident at L3/4 and L4/5 on axial images. No central stenosis is seen on a sagittal image.

Fig. 2 CT scans obtained after myelography before surgery. Four nerve roots (at L4 and L5 bilaterally) are impinged by lateral recess stenosis. CT: computed tomography.

His preoperative sonographic characteristics of bilateral carotid arteries showed that there was iso- to high-echoic plaques and calcification in bilateral carotid arteries, the unstable plaque with lipid rich in the left common carotid sinus. Mean intima media thickness (IMTs) were 0.91 mm in both sides and the total plaque score was 22 mm (right: 11.5 mm, left 10.5 mm). Peak systemic velocities of the common carotid artery (CCA) were 75 cm/s on the right side and 89 cm/s on the left side. End diastolic velocities (EDV) of CCA were 12 cm/s in the right side and 19 cm/s in the left side. There was no significant stenosis in carotid arteries within the sonographic observation; however, compared to the left side, EDV in right CCA was decreased, which suspected that the peripheral side of the right internal carotid artery might be stenotic. Cerebral magnetic resonance angiography showed asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis on the right side. He has never had a past medical history of cerebral infarction, oral medication of antiplatelet drugs, or statins. The neurologist and anesthesiologist concluded that he could have high risk of cerebral infarction as a result of a sudden change in blood pressure during general anesthesia. Moreover, he had past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with decreased forced expiratory volume of 59.0%. Therefore, we changed the surgical plan to four-stage FEVF bilaterally at L3/4 and L4/5 under local anesthesia.

An FEVF procedure is performed under local anesthesia with stabilization of blood pressure and adequate pain control and sedation by an anesthesiologist. After creating an 8-mm skin incision about 7–8 cm from the midline, local anesthesia is injected into the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, paravertebral muscle tissue, and facet joint. First, an 8-mm cannula is docked on the superior articular process. The entire superior articular process is then removed using a high-speed drill. Next, the inferior articular process is partially removed, exposing the ligamentum flavum in the area that covers the traversing nerve root. Finally, the ligamentum flavum at the lateral recess is resected, and ventral facetectomy is completed after confirmation that the traversing nerve is decompressed.

In our patient, FEVF was performed first at L4/5 on the right side and then on the left side 2 months later. At that time, the patient’s lower leg pain resolved completely but he continued to experience anterior thigh pain when walking. Therefore, we planned FEVF at L3/4. Unfortunately, the patient developed pneumonia just before surgery. Therefore, the operation was deferred until he had recovered. Two years after FEVF at L4/5, when his general condition had improved, FEVF was performed at L3/4 on the right side and then at L3/4 on the left side 1 month later. No surgery-related complications (such as nerve root damage, dural tearing, hematoma, or infection) were recorded after any of the four operations.

Postoperative CT scans confirmed successful ventral facetectomy and bony resection at both L3/4 and L4/5, and MRI showed decompression of the traversing nerve roots of both L4 and L5 (Fig. 3). Comparison of three-dimensional CT scans obtained before and after the surgery (Fig. 4) confirmed that bony resection performed through the intervertebral foramen was adequate at L3/4 and L4/5. During follow-up period, we did not confirm segmental instability at L3/4 and L4/5 after the operations.

Fig. 3 Preoperative and postoperative CT scans and MRI. Successful ventral facetectomy with bony resection is confirmed at the L3/4 and L4/5 levels after the four surgical procedures. CT: computed tomography, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.

Fig. 4 Three-dimensional CT scans obtained before and after the surgery. Bony resection performed through the intervertebral foramen is adequate at L3/4 and L4/5. CT: computed tomography.

The postoperative course was good after the final surgery. The pain in both legs was improved and the patient could walk without intermittent claudication. According to the modified MacNab criteria, the surgical outcome is good.

Discussion

In this report, we have described a man who presented with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) at L3/4 and L4/5 but had surgical risk factors of parkinsonism, severe carotid artery stenosis, and COPD. Therefore, there was a substantial risk of stroke as a result of change in blood pressure during general anesthesia. We elected to perform TF-FEVF under local anesthesia in this patient. His pathology was bilateral lateral recess stenosis at L3/4 and L4/5; therefore, a total of four nerve roots, including those at L4 and L5 bilaterally, were impinged by the stenosis. Four-stage TF-FEVF^3,5,13) at L3/4 and L4/5 was performed step-by-step for this pathology. There were no surgery-related complications and his symptoms are now alleviated.

LSS is the most common spinal disorder in the elderly population. The gold standard surgical treatment for LSS is laminectomy. Although The invasiveness of laminectomy is now minimal when using a microscope,¹⁴⁾ microendoscope,¹⁵⁾ or full- endoscope,¹⁶⁾ interlaminar procedures still require general anesthesia. Although Wu, et al. reported stepwise local anesthesia for percutaneous endoscopic discectomy via interlaminar approach,¹⁷⁾ this procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia. Full-endoscopic TF procedure can be performed under local anesthesia. Many elderly patients with LSS have poor general health, with comorbidities such as cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction, which typically renders general anesthesia impossible. TF full-endoscopic decompression is worthwhile in such cases because it can be performed under local anesthesia. Of course, local anesthesia has potential risks of respiratory depression or hemodynamic instability due to the use of sedative drugs and analgesics as well. Therefore, we should pay attention to monitor patient’s vital signs during operation. In our case, four FEVFs could be performed under local anesthesia with help of an anesthesiologist.

Transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) through Kambin’s safety triangle is one of the posterolateral approaches and can be performed with 8 mm skin incision and minimal disruption of the spinal structures including ligaments and muscles. According to the result of a meta-analysis compared TELD compared to standard discectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), TELD found to be superior to those after standard discectomy for blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, and mean disability period.¹⁸⁾ Postoperative complications of TF procedures are dysesthesia in exiting nerve root distribution, nerve root injury, and revision operation regarding to incomplete decompression. Incidence of them is reported 3.1–9.1%.^19,20) There are no report of postoperative juxta-facet cyst regarding to TF-FESS. In our case, preoperative MRI showed fluid collection in both facet joints at L4/5, which suggested segmental instability of L4/5 and potential risk of juxta-facet cyst after this operation. Although this patient has never had juxta-facet cyst, we should follow up in the long-term period.

This case states the usefulness of FEVF in that it can be performed under local anesthesia for elderly patients in poor general health. Another advantage of this procedure is that it is minimally invasive. The skin incision is only 8 mm and muscle damage is minimal, meaning that the patient can resume daily activities very rapidly. For example, Sugiura et al.³⁾ reported a case of a male dentist with bilateral L4/5 lateral recess stenosis who returned to work 5 days after FEVF. Fujii et al.²⁾ reported similar results in physician patients, one of whom underwent FEVF and returned to work just 2 days after surgery. Therefore, TF full-endoscopic decompression can be considered effective not only in elderly patients with comorbidities but also in patients who need a rapid return to work after surgery.

The number of patients undergoing LSS is likely to be increasing in developed countries, all of which are experiencing a steady annual increase in their elderly populations. The elderly are very likely to have comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes; if severe, these comorbidities preclude surgery under general anesthesia. For example, Sairyo et al.²¹⁾ reported the case of a 72-year-old woman with central LSS and severe pulmonary dysfunction (minute volume, 0.71 L). In this patient, they performed a novel TF full-endoscopic procedure under local anesthesia to decompress the central stenosis, including total resection of the superior articular process, partial removal of the inferior articular process, and partial flavectomy, which they referred to as TF lumbar undercutting laminectomy.

There are three types of LSS, that is, foraminal, lateral recess, and central. TF full-endoscopic decompression was first developed for foraminal stenosis.^11,12) Subsequently, it was found that lateral recess stenosis could be decompressed using a TF approach.^3,5,13) Finally, it became possible to decompress central stenosis by TF lumbar undercutting laminectomy under local anesthesia.²¹⁾ There are some ongoing technical limitations, but we are now able to decompress any type of LSS under local anesthesia using a TF full-endoscopic system.

Conclusion

We performed four-stage TF FEVF at L3/4 and L4/5 bilaterally in step-by-step manner under local anesthesia in a man with LSS at L3/4 and L4/5 who had severe comorbidities. The TF full-endoscopic decompression under local anesthesia can be recommended for elderly patients with a poor general health status.

Conflicts of Interest Disclosure

The authors have no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this paper.

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