Endoscope-assisted oblique lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of cauda equina syndrome: a technical note

Objective

The goal of this paper was to describe how endoscope-assisted oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) could remove huge lumbar disc herniation (HLDH) manifested with cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Methods

In this study, the authors made an attempt to treat CES with a direct endoscopic decompression through the OLIF corridor and performed OLIF in two patients with HLDH.

Results

Two patients with HLDH were successfully treated using OLIF with spinal endoscopic discectomy. We achieved direct ventral decompression by removal of herniated disc fragments located beyond the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL). All preoperative symptoms in two patients improved postoperatively.

Conclusions

Endoscope-assisted oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) could successfully achieve neural decompression without additional posterior decompression in CES and could be used as an alternative treatment in well selected cases.