Clin Orthop Surg.  2019 Dec;11(4):422-426. 10.4055/cios.2019.11.4.422.

A Survey on the Short-term Outcome of Microlumbar Discectomy with General versus Spinal Anesthesia

• Dashtbani
• Dori MM
• Hassani M
• Omidi-Kashani F

• KMID: 2462536
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2019.11.4.422

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Surgery on the lower thoracic and lumbosacral spine is possible with both general and spinal anesthesia, but most spine surgeons are reluctant to perform the surgery with spinal anesthesia. We aimed to conduct a survey on the short-term outcome of microlumbar discectomy in the patients who had been treated under general or spinal anesthesia.
METHODS
In this prospective study, we performed a survey on 72 patients who underwent microlumbar discectomy under general anesthesia (group A) or spinal anesthesia (group B). Demographic characteristics, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, duration of operation, blood loss, and complications were all documented. Preoperative and early postoperative (at the time of discharge) disability and pain were assessed by using Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system and a visual analog scale questionnaire.
RESULTS
The two groups were homogenous preoperatively. The mean intraoperative blood loss was less and the mean operating time was shorter in group A than in group B, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups. The rate of postoperative improvement in JOA score and improvement in pain were similar between groups. Anesthetic complications were unremarkable.
CONCLUSIONS
Simple lumbar disc operations in the otherwise healthy patients can be safely performed under either spinal or general anesthesia. Both anesthetic methods led to comparable outcomes with minimal complications.

Keyword

Discectomy; Outcome assessment; General anesthesia; Spinal anesthesia

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Anesthesia, Spinal*
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Diskectomy*
Humans
Orthopedics
Prospective Studies
Spine
Surgeons
Visual Analog Scale

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