Comparative Study Between Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis Treatment Modalities

Assiut University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

Treatments: Procedure: Open lumbar decompression ± fusion; Procedure: Minimally invasive lumbar foraminal decompression using unilateral biportal endoscopy "device"

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06686407

Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the clinical and radiological outcome of two different interventional techniques in lumbar foraminal stenosis decompression. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does minimally invasive techniques give better results than conventional techniques?

Participants will:

Undergo minimally invasive intervention using unilateral biportal endoscopy for lumbar foraminal stenosis decompression Undergo lumbar fusion for lumbar foraminal stenosis decompression Keep a diary of their symptoms and improvement of these symptoms

Full description

Lumbar foraminal stenosis decompression will be done using two different techniques:

1. Conventional Open Lumbar fusion By laminectomy and facetectomy and fixation with screws and rods ± interbody cage
2. Minimally invasive (Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy) Basic spine surgery instruments, 0° and 30° angled 4-mm diameter endoscopes commonly used in joint arthroscopic surgery, a radiofrequency catheter, Arthroscopic burr, and a shaver.

Surgical approach to the foraminal area Two portals are created to perform this surgery. Water is infused through the endoscope through the viewing portal, and the working portal had an additional purpose as a portal for water outflow. The proximal and distal portals are created 2 cm lateral from the pedicle level on the C-arm anteroposterior image. Each incision for the portals is 0.8 cm in length, which is adequate for instrument and endoscope insertion. For the left side foramen, the proximal and distal portals are used as the viewing and working portals, respectively, and vice versa for the right foramen. After the endoscope insertion through the viewing portal, we secure a space for the lower transverse process around the lateral surface of the facet joint. A radiofrequency catheter or a shaver is used to secure the space, and a radiofrequency catheter is used to control active bleeding.

Decompression of foraminal stenosis After a sufficient working space is obtained, the cranial 50% of the superior articular process of the thickened facet joint is removed using an arthroscopic burr or an osteotome. After removing the superior articular process, the ligamentum flavum around the foramen is removed using a curette and a Kerrison punch. After completion of flavectomy, nerve root and epidural fat are identified. If herniated disc material is found preoperatively, additional discectomy is performed usually from the axilla of the root. Surgery is confirmed to be completed after achieving an amount of free space concordant with the diameter of the nerve root in the foraminal zone, and then a drain tube is inserted.

Enrollment: 32 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All Patients with degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis, diagnosed in outpatient clinic.
• Patients (age >18 )

Exclusion criteria

• Deformity.
• Infection of vertebrae.
• Tumor of vertebrae.
• Instability.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

32 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1

Experimental group

Treatment:

Procedure: Open lumbar decompression ± fusion

Group 2

Experimental group

Treatment:

Procedure: Minimally invasive lumbar foraminal decompression using unilateral biportal endoscopy "device"