Surgical Outcomes and Recurrence Rates in Far Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniations: A Retrospective Analysis of 91 Cases.

Objective: Far lateral lumbar disc herniations are distinct from intracanal herniations in clinical, radiological, and surgical aspects. This study aimed to assess surgical outcomes and recurrence risk factors for far lateral disc herniations treated with trans pars microsurgery. Methods: Retrospective analysis included patients diagnosed with far lateral disc herniation who underwent Microscopic Transpars Discectomy at our university hospital between 2017 and 2022. Data encompassed demographics, pain characteristics, neurological status, radiological findings, surgical duration, pre/postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and late postoperative satisfaction rates. Results: Of 91 patients (58.2% men, 41.8% women; mean age 57.42 ± 10.47 years), 76.92% had excellent outcomes, 16.48% good, and 6.5% fair; recurrence occurred in 5.5%. No significant differences were found between recurrent and non-recurrent cases in sex, age, herniation side, operation time, or levels (p > 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in recurrent cases for pre/postoperative VAS (p > 0.05) or ODI scores (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Microdiscectomy performed via transpars intervention is a safe and effective technique for the surgical treatment of far lateral disc herniation; age, sex, herniation level, herniation side, and VAS and ODI scores were not identified as recurrence risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]