J Minim Invasive Spine Surg Tech.  2024 Oct;9(2):136-141. 10.21182/jmisst.2024.01207.

Postoperative Dysesthesia Secondary to Thermal Injury Following Biportal Endoscopy for Lumbar Canal Stenosis: A Report of 3 Cases and Technical Details of Radiofrequency

• Lokanath YK
• Jabri HE
• Chen KT
• Kim JS

• KMID: 2562228
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21182/jmisst.2024.01207

Abstract

Postoperative dysesthesia following lumbar spine surgery is a highly bothersome symptom in the follow-up period. Although many factors contribute to this condition, the most important one is the use of radiofrequency in endoscopic spine surgery. Nonetheless, there is widespread acceptance regarding the use of radiofrequency in endoscopic spine surgery, and the literature contains few reports related to thermal damage to nerves. We describe 3 cases of nondermatomal dysesthesia syndrome in patients who had undergone lumbar unilateral biportal endoscopic surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. All diagnostic modalities were equivocal, and no pathological lesion was identified. Therefore, we interpreted the dysesthesia as secondary to thermal damage to neural structures, resulting from the radiofrequency.

Keyword

Biportal endoscopic surgery; Unilateral biportal endoscopic surgery; Thermal injury; Postoperative dysesthesia