Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39910398›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Clinical efficacy and learning curve of percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy for symptomatic cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.

Xiao Sun, Lijuan Zhan, Zhongxin Tang, Mingkui Shen, Haijun Ma, Jun Tan

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiao SunDepartment of Mini-invasive Spinal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
Lijuan ZhanDepartment of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
Zhongxin TangDepartment of Mini-invasive Spinal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
Mingkui ShenDepartment of Mini-invasive Spinal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
Haijun Ma *Department of Mini-invasive Spinal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China. mhjspine1234@163.com.
Jun Tan *Department of Mini-invasive Spinal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China. Doctortan0718@126.com.

Funding

The Joint Project of Medical Science and Technology of Henan Province LHGJ20190859The National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project YU Medical Letter 2023 [30]
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and learning curve of percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) in treating patients with symptomatic cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

methodsA total of 105 patients with single-segment symptomatic CSR treated between January 2020 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into PECD and ACDF groups based on the surgical approach. Patient demographics, operation time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, complications, postoperative hospital stay, total hospitalization cost, neck dysfunction index (NDI), arm and neck visual analog scale (VAS) scores were compared and analyzed. The learning curve of the PECD group was assessed using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis.

resultsThere was no statistically significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05). The PECD group had shorter operative time, smaller incision length, less estimated intraoperative bleeding, lower total hospitalization costs, and shorter postoperative hospital stays compared to the ACDF group (P < 0.05). Postoperative NDI, arm VAS, and neck VAS scores improved significantly in both groups compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups during the same period (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences between the PECD and ACDF groups in the number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, complications, or surgical success rates (P > 0.05). As more cases accumulated, a trend toward shorter operative times was observed in the PECD group. When grouped according to the learning curve, with the 23rd case as the cutoff point, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the learning phase and proficient phase groups (P > 0.05).

conclusionsPECD is a safe and effective procedure for treating single-segment CSR, offering clinical outcomes comparable to ACDF. PECD has a notable learning curve, requiring beginners to perform 23 cases to reach proficiency. However, longer operative times do not negatively impact preclinical outcomes.

trial registrationRetrospectively registered.

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeDiskectomy, PercutaneousEndoscopyLearning CurveRadiculopathySpondylosisAdultAgedFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle AgedOperative TimeRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnterior cervical discectomy and fusionCervical spondylotic radiculopathyEndoscopic spinal surgeryLearning curvePercutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy

Identifiers

PMID39910398
PMCPMC11796077

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.