• Chun-hai Li, Shang-li Liu, Dong-sheng Huang, Yue Ding, and Jie-min He.
• Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
• Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2006 Feb 15; 44 (4): 235-7.

ObjectiveTo introduce the METRx microendoscopes diskectomy system in the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation.MethodsFourteen cases of far lateral lumbar disc herniation were operated with METRx from February 1999 to December 2002. Among them, the average age was 49 years old (range 41 - 55 years old), male in 10 cases, female in 4 cases. All cases were single disc herniation; L(4), 5 herniation in 6 discs, L(5)-S(1) herniation in 8 discs; foraminal disc herniation in 6 cases, extra-foraminal disc herniation in 8 cases.ResultsAll the cases were followed up from 12 to 46 months (average 26.5 months) with the results of excellence in 10 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case and no failure case. There were no disc infection, dura laceration, nerve root injury and herniation recurrence.ConclusionsMETRx is suitable for far lateral lumbar disc herniation with the advantages of minimal invasive, complete decompression of nerve root and rapid recovery. The correct approach and precise surgical technique are the key points for this operation.

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