Translaminar Approach for Treatment of Hidden Zone Foraminal Lumbar Disc Herniations: Surgical Technique and Preoperative Selection of Patients with Long-Term Follow-Up

Background Lumbar disc herniation is a common degenerative disease of the lumbar spine with a prevalence of 1%–3% in some population studies. In 10% of patients, there is a fragment migrated cranially in Macnab's “hidden zone.” In selected cases, this fragment can be removed with a translaminar approach that was described in 1998. We provide a detailed description of the technical advantages and pitfalls of the translaminar approach in a consecutive series of 32 patients treated at our institution. Methods Patients were divided preoperatively and postoperatively into 5 classes based on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI): class 1, ODI 0%–20% (minimal disability); class 2, 20%–40% (moderate disability); class 3, 40%–60% (severe disability); 60%–80% (crippled); 80%–100% (bedridden or disabling symptoms). Results Four (12.5%) patients were upgraded 1 ODI class after the operation; 6 (18.7%) patients were upgraded 2 classes, 8 (25%) patients were upgraded 3 classes, and 11 (34.4%) patients were upgraded 4 classes. In 3 (9.4%) patients, ODI class did not change after the operation. After surgery, 7 (21.9%) patients developed mild low back pain. Mean follow-up was 25 months. Conclusions When performed by dedicated spinal neurosurgeons, the translaminar approach is safe and effective in patients with long-term follow-up. Most patients showed an improvement in ODI. Major pitfalls were related to surgical selection and the narrow working space.