COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REHABILITATION OUTCOMES FOR ULTRASOUND-GUIDED EPIDURAL AND PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC TRANSFORAMINAL DISCECTOMY IN ATHLETES WITH LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Epidural Bed (UBED) and Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy (PETD) in treating lumbar disc herniation in athletes. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial that compared two groups of patients with lumbar disc herniation admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022. Each group consisted of 25 patients, treated either with UBED or PETD. The clinical efficacy of the two surgical methods was evaluated, focusing on operation time, hospitalization duration, and treatment outcomes assessed by the VAS pain visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements post-treatment with no recurrence of lumbar disc herniation at the one-year follow-up. The UBED group showed an excellent and good rate of 92%, slightly higher than the 88% observed in the PETD group. The UBED technique was noted for its higher operational efficiency, lower incidence of complications, and more thorough decompression. Conclusion: UBED technology offers significant advantages in the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation in athletes. It enhances operational efficiency, reduces the risk of complications, and achieves more comprehensive decompression. This makes UBED a preferable option for clinical application in the athletic population, promoting better recovery and minimizing downtime.