Abstract

• Objectives
  The microdiskectomy was developed out of attempts to refine the classical lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy. The ligament-sparing microdiskectomy, a more refined technique, was developed by the author. For this study a series of patients, operated by the present author, were reviewed.
• Methods
  Consecutive patients admitted to Ewha Mokdong hospital between August 1997 and June 2000 who were to undergo virgin, unilateral single-level lumbar ligament-sparing microdiskectomy undergoing unilateral single-level microdiskectomies were included. The technique of the ligament-sparing diskectomy was described in detail.
• Results
  A total of 83 patients were operated on(M : F/63 : 21), with an average age of 37.2 years. Successful outcome was achieved in 78 patients(93.9%). Surgical complications included one wound infection and one reoperation for residual disk herniation.
• Conclusion
  The author believe that this technique is safe, can provide acceptable clinical outcome, and has an additional advantage of preserving the epidural fat.
• Keywords: Ligament-sparing microdiskectomy; Lumbar disk herniation