Microendoscope-Assisted Decompression Surgery With Resection of Bony Fragment for Treating a Separation of Lumbar Posterior Ring Apophysis in Young Athletes

STUDY DESIGN: Case series. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical outcomes of the decompression procedure using the microendoscopic discectomy system for the treatment of a separation of lumbar posterior ring apophysis in young active athletes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 17 cases that underwent the microendoscopic surgery to treat a symptomatic separated lumbar ring apophysis between 2001 and 2014 at our institute or our associated hospital. The cases consisted of 15 males and 2 females, with their ages ranging from 12 to 19 years. The surgeries were performed at total of 18 lumbar levels, including 15 L4/5 and 3 L5/S1 levels. All patients were young athletes. We evaluated the following: (1) the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for low back pain, (2) recovery rates using Hirabayashi’s method, (3) operating time, (4) intraoperative blood loss, (5) perioperative complications, (6) the status of comeback to sports, and (7) the period taken to return to sports. RESULTS: The JOA score was improved after the surgery in all cases. Recovery rate was 92.0% ± 8.1%. The mean operating time per level was 89.2 ± 33.3 minutes. The mean intraoperative blood loss per level was 95.3 ± 93.1 mL. A pinhole size dural tear occurred in one case as a perioperative complication. All cases returned to sports. The mean period taken to return to sports was 10.9 ± 3.5 weeks. CONCLUSION: Microendoscopic decompression surgery is useful for treating a separation of lumbar posterior ring apophysis.