Abstract
Due to epidemic occurrence of low-back pain in the last years, lumbar discectomy has become the most frequent neurosurgical procedure. Previously, percutaneous approaches to lumbar discectomy have not proven to be as effective as standard open disc surgery.
However, new systems such as METRx (Minimal Exposure Tubular Retractor) have been successfully used in the last few years for treatment of patients with degenerative spine diseases. Since June 2004 thirty-five patients at the authors' institution have undergone posterior lumbar discectomy utilising a minimally invasive approach via the METRx system.
No patient was converted to a formal open procedure. In case of one patient the surgery had to be repeated for recurrent lumbar disc herniation.
This system reduces both the post-operative pain and the length of hospital stay. In addition, skin incision is reduced by the METRx system.
In spite of certain limitations, the minimally invasive approach of the METRx system is an excellent method of treating the lumbar disc herniation.