ArticleSurgical neurology international2026
Endoscopic transforaminal discectomy for far lateral disc herniation at L3-L4: A 2-dimensional operative video.
Article in Surgical neurology international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Far lateral disc herniations (FLDHs) comprise approximately 7-12% of all lumbar disc herniations and involve protrusion of disc material within or lateral to the intervertebral foramen. Compression of the exiting nerve root and dorsal root ganglion at the same intervertebral level may result in more severe, acute, and refractory radicular pain when compared to paramedian disc herniations, often necessitating surgical management. Due to their lateral location, FLDHs limit direct posterior access and often require off-midline approaches to avoid excessive bony resection. These technical challenges motivate the use of endoscopic techniques, which enable targeted decompression of the exiting nerve root. Case Description: This report describes a 49-year-old male with progressive worsening lumbar radiculopathy in the setting of a right FLDH at the Lumbar 3 - Lumbar 4 level. Given the single-level extraforaminal pathology causing progressive, refractory radicular symptoms despite conservative management, endoscopic far lateral discectomy was recommended. To begin, a paramedian incision was made over the right L3-L4 foramen, after which dilators were advanced down to the facet complex and a tubular retractor was positioned over the lateral aspect of the lamina and facet. Using the endoscope, soft tissue was cleared from the lateral facet and transverse process with electrocautery and pituitary rongeurs. We then performed a laminotomy and partial lateral facetectomy to mobilize the exiting L3 nerve root. The herniated disc was removed with pituitary rongeurs, and closure was performed in a layered fashion. Conclusion: The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative hospital course and recovery. At 2 weeks, he reported significant improvement in right lower extremity pain with minor residual pain in the right knee and shin. By 4 months, the patient reported continued improvement in preoperative symptoms with no ongoing pain or discomfort. The patient consented to the procedure, and Institutional Review Board approval was not required for this single-case observational surgical video.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.