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Incidence Of Recurrence Of Lumbar Disc Herniation Following Endoscopic Discectomy

Authors

Mukhtiar Ahmed Lakho
Professor of Neurosurgery Department KMC Khairpur Mirs
Hamid Akbar Shaikh
Professor Neurosurgery at PUMHSW Nawabshah
Talha Abbas
Assistant Professor Neurosurgery FJMU/SGRH, Lahore
M Ajmal Khan Ayaz
Professor of Neurosurgery, SIMS/Services Hospital Lahore
Sundus Ali
Associate Professor/HOD, Department of Neurosurgery RMU & Allied Hospitals Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the six-month incidence of symptomatic recurrent lumbar disc herniation following endoscopic discectomy and to evaluate associated pain and functional outcomes.
Study Design:
Prospective Cohort Study.
Place and Duration of Study:
Khairpur Medical College Hospital (KMCH), Sindh, Pakistan. 01 year (January 2024 to December 2025).
Patients and Methods:
This study enrolled 180 patients, aged 18–60 years, undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for single-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Follow-up was conducted for 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome was MRI-confirmed symptomatic recurrence; secondary outcomes were Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) for leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Results:
Symptomatic recurrence occurred in 11 of 180 patients (6.1%; 95% CI: 3.1–10.7%). Mean time to recurrence was 3.2 months. VAS improved from 7.8 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.9, and ODI from 62.4% to 18.3% at six months (both p < 0.001). The overall complication rate was 3.9%. No difference in recurrence found between techniques (p = 0.612).
Conclusion:
Endoscopic discectomy yields a low 6-month recurrence rate, with clinically significant pain and functional improvement in a Pakistani provincial setting, supporting its adoption in resource-appropriate tertiary care centres.
Kewords:
Lumbar disc herniation; endoscopic discectomy; recurrent disc herniation; Oswestry Disability Index; Visual Analogue Scale

How to cite this article

Lakho MA, Shaikh HA, Abbas T, Ayaz MAK, Ali S. Incidence of Recurrence of Lumbar Disc Herniation following Endoscopic Discectomy. HMDJ. 2026 June; 06(01): 46-51.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69884/hmdj.6.1.1509

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