Application of continuous epidural anesthesia in transforaminal lumbar endoscopic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Objective This study aimed to compare intraoperative lower back pain and leg pain, surgical time, and intraoperative X-ray dose in patients offered local infiltration anesthesia or continuous epidural anesthesia for transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) surgery. Methods A total of 98 patients who received TESSYS treatment for single-segmental lumbar disc herniation were included, and were randomly divided into two groups: group A (49 cases; local infiltration anesthesia) and group B (49 cases; continuous epidural anesthesia). Surgical duration, intraoperative X-ray dose, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores of lower back pain and leg pain before surgery, during surgery, and 48 h after surgery were recorded and compared. Results After surgery, the VAS scores of both lower back pain and leg pain decreased in group A, and similar findings were found in group B. Group B had a shorter surgical duration, lower intraoperative X-ray dose, and lower intraoperative VAS scores of lower back pain and leg pain compared with group A. Conclusion Compared with local infiltration anesthesia, continuous epidural anesthesia was more effective for pain relief during TESSYS for single-segmental lumbar disc herniation, and also contributed to a shorter surgical duration and lower X-ray exposure