Laparoscopic L5-S1 diskectomy: a cost-effective, minimally invasive general surgery--neurosurgery team alternative to laminectomy.

Laparoscopic L5-S1 diskectomy (LLD) is a promising new technique for managing disabling pain from herniated lumbar disks. It is unknown, however, whether the clinical results of LLD are superior to those of traditional laminectomy (LAM). This study was undertaken, therefore, in order to compare LLD and LAM in the management of L5-S1 disk herniation unresponsive to conservative treatment measures. Clinical records of 22 patients who underwent 23 LLD procedures and of 23 LAM patients were reviewed with respect to demographics and median age, operative blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, and time of rehabilitation to work/normal activity, as well as postoperative morbidity, recurrent symptoms, long-term functional status, and inhospital patient charges. Two LLD patients had undergone LAM previously, and one had a percutaneous microdiskectomy. All LLD patients had relief of disk pain immediately after surgery. Morbidity after LLD included transient brachial plexus neuropraxia (1), urinary retention (1), and rectus hematoma (1). No LAM complications were reported. Among LLD patients, compared with LAM, median age (34.5 years versus 40 years), estimated blood loss (12 mL versus 68 mL), hospital length of stay (1 day versus 3 days), time to normal activity (17 days versus 79 days) and mean inhospital patient charges ($5,737 +/- 283 versus $7,762 +/- 662) were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). LLD operating time was significantly longer than LAM (210 versus 160 minutes median, P < 0.01). With a median follow-up time of 11.0 months (range, 2 to 23 months) all LLD patients had returned to normal activity, whereas 7 of the LAM group (30%) remained disabled (P < 0.01). Sixty-eight per cent of LLD patients were pain-free during follow-up, compared with 39 per cent of the LAM group (P < 0.05). Sixty-four per cent of LLD patients and 57 per cent of the LAM group needed postoperatively physical therapy. One LLD and 4 LAM patients required reoperation, by LLD and LAM, respectively, for recurrent disk herniation. LLD is a safe, cost-effective, minimally invasive operation for managing disabling L5-S1 disk herniation. Compared with LAM, LLD reduces blood loss, length of stay, rehabilitation time, and patient charges, and improves long-term functional and pain-free status. LLD should be considered as an alternative to LAM for patients with herniated L5-S1 intervertebral disks unresponsive to conservative management.