Application of continuous epidural anesthesia in transforaminal lumbar endoscopic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare intraoperative lower back pain and leg pain, surgical time, and intraoperative X-ray dose in patients offered local infiltration anesthesia or continuous epidural anesthesia for transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) surgery. METHODS: A total of 98 patients who received TESSYS treatment for single-segmental lumbar disc herniation were included, and were randomly divided into two groups: group A (49 cases; local infiltration anesthesia) and group B (49 cases; continuous epidural anesthesia). Surgical duration, intraoperative X-ray dose, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores of lower back pain and leg pain before surgery, during surgery, and 48 h after surgery were recorded and compared. RESULTS: After surgery, the VAS scores of both lower back pain and leg pain decreased in group A, and similar findings were found in group B. Group B had a shorter surgical duration, lower intraoperative X-ray dose, and lower intraoperative VAS scores of lower back pain and leg pain compared with group A. CONCLUSION: Compared with local infiltration anesthesia, continuous epidural anesthesia was more effective for pain relief during TESSYS for single-segmental lumbar disc herniation, and also contributed to a shorter surgical duration and lower X-ray exposure.