ResultsFrom 2010 to 2014, there were 286 cases of lumbar transforaminal endoscopic surgeries, 121 cases utilizing local anesthesia and 165 cases utilizing epidural anesthesia. In cases in which neurological complications occurred after surgery, 15 cases involved nerve root numbness, including one case of foot drop and 2 cases of cerebrospinal leakage in the local anesthesia group, which accounted for 12.4% of group A. However, in the epidural anesthesia group, which accounted for 9.70% of group B, there were 16 cases of nerve root numbness, including 2 cases of foot drop and 2 cases of cerebrospinal leakage. No significant difference was detected in the incidence of neurological complications between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The ODI improvement rates were 86.0% in the local anesthesia group and 85.4% in the epidural anesthesia group (P > 0.05). The average x-ray exposure times were 14.7 seconds and 16 seconds in the local anesthesia group and epidural anesthesia group, respectively (P > 0.05). The postoperative patient satisfaction rates were 73.6% and 91% in the local anesthesia group and epidural anesthesia group, respectively (P < 0.001).LimitationsThis was a single-blind study, and the complications observed were related to the learning curve; all these factors may lead to biases.ConclusionsEpidural anesthesia in transforaminal lumbar surgery is feasible and safe, and no significant difference in neurological complications was observed between the epidural anesthesia and the local anesthesia groups. However, for the patients concerned, the postoperative patient satisfaction rate was significantly greater in the epidural anesthesia group. It is noteworthy that the x-ray exposure times of the groups were not significantly different.Key WordsEpidural anesthesia, transforaminal lumbar surgery, neurological complications, cerebrospinal leak.

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