Comparison of postoperative outcomes between patients with positive and negative straight leg raising tests who underwent full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy

Full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy (FETD) is increasingly used in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). There is little knowledge on the related factors, including the straight leg raising test (SLR), that influence the operation. Consecutive patients with LDH who came to our hospital from August 2015 to September 2016 and underwent FETD surgery were included. Four kinds of scores, including the VAS (lumbar/leg), ODI and JOA values, were measured and reassessed after FETD to assess the surgical outcomes. There was a statistically significant difference between the scores before surgery and at each postoperative follow-up. In addition, the increase in the JOA score postoperatively was statistically significant compared with that before surgery. There were statistically significant differences among the three subpopulations [patients considered SLR positive (0°–30°), SLR positive (31°–60°) and SLR negative (61°–)] in the changes in the VAS (leg), ODI and JOA values. However, there were no statistically significant differences among the three subpopulations [patients considered SLR positive (0°–30°), SLR positive (31°–60°) and SLR negative (61°–)] in the changes in VAS score (lumbar). FETD showed great effectiveness in treating patients with lumbar disc herniation. Patients who were SLR negative may receive greater benefit from FETD.