Objective: To compare early outcomes between biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) and open lumbar discectomy (OLD) for treating singlelevel lumbar disc herniation.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 80 cases of single-level lumbar disc herniation that underwent either BESS or OLD. The author compared the perioperative data between BESS and OLD, including operative time (OT), level, side, estimated blood loss (EBL), surgical drain output, hospital stay (HS), hospital costs, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, morphine consumption, complication, and McNab’s satisfaction outcome.

Results: Forty-three patients underwent BESS and 37 underwent OLD. There was 55% female and 45% male. The mean age was 37.8±9.5 years. The BESS group showed significantly (a) lower median morphine consumption than the OLD group (five mg versus nine mg, p<0.001), (b) lower postoperative pain (VAS) at 2-, 4-, 12-, 24-, 48- (p<0.001), and 72-hours post-surgery (p=0.017), and (c) shorter HS (4.8±2.9 days versus 7.4±4.6 days, p=0.003). McNab’s satisfaction outcome of a good or excellent result was comparable between BESS and OLD group (97.7% versus 86.5%, p=0.090). The BESS group, however, had a longer OT than the OLD group (100.4±28.5 versus 67.9±23.2 minutes, p<0.001), and had a higher hospital cost (1,256±360.9 USD versus 910.6±269.8 USD, p<0.001). Complications were not significantly different between the BESS and OLD groups.

Conclusion: BESS for single-level lumbar discectomy had less postoperative pain for up to 72 hours, less opioid consumption, and shorter HS, but longer OT and higher hospital costs than OLD. Patient satisfaction outcomes were comparable between the two groups.

Keywords: Biportal endoscopic spine surgery, Unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy, Open lumbar discectomy, Single-level lumbar disc herniation

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.01.11524

Received 10 June 2020 | Revised 14 August 2020 | Accepted 14 August 2020