Background and Objectives: Chondroitin sulfate ABC endolyase (condoliase) was launched as a new drug for chemonucleolysis in 2018. Few studies assessed its clinical outcomes, and many important factors remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the preoperative conditions in which condoliase could be highly effective. Materials and Methods: Of 47 patients who received condoliase, 34 were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 33 years. The average duration since the onset of disease was 8.6 months. We evaluated patients’ low back and leg pain using a numerical rating scale (NRS) score at two time points (before therapy and 3 months after therapy). We divided the patients into two groups (good group (G): NRS score improvement ≥ 50%, poor group (P): NRS score improvement < 50%). The parameters evaluated were age, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), and positive or negative straight leg raising test results. In addition, the loss of disc height and preoperative radiological findings were evaluated. Results: In terms of low back and leg pain, the G group included 9/34 (26.5%) and 21/34 (61.8%) patients, respectively. Patients’ age (low back pain G/P, 21/36.5 years) was significantly lower in the G group for low back pain (p = 0.001). High-intensity change in the protruded nucleus pulposus (NP) and spinal canal occupancy by the NP ≥ 40% were significantly high in those with leg pain in the G groups (14/21, p = 0.04; and 13/21, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: The efficacy of improvement in leg pain was significantly correlated with high-intensity change and size of the protruded NP. Condoliase was not significantly effective for low back pain but could have an effect on younger patients.

Background and Objectives: Chondroitin sulfate ABC endolyase (condoliase) was launched as a new drug for chemonucleolysis in 2018. There are few Few studies assessed regarding its clinical outcomes, and many important factors matters still remain unclear. The purpose of this This study aimed is to clarify clarify the preoperative conditionsfactors for in which condoliase could beis highly effective. Materials and Methods: Of the 47 patients who received condoliase, 34 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 33 years. The average disease duration since the onset of the disease was 8.6 months. We evaluated the patients’patient’s low back and leg painpains using a numericalNumerical rating scale (NRS) score at two time points (before therapy and 3 months after therapyadministration). We divided the patients into two groups ([good group [(G]:): NRS score improvement ≥ 50%, poor group (P): NRS score improvement < 50%]. The parameters evaluatedSurvey items were age, disease disease duration, body mass index (BMI), and the presence or absence of positive or negative straight leg raising (SLR) test results. In additionMoreover, the loss of disc height loss and participation of preoperative radiological findings were also evaluated. Results: In terms of low back and leg pain, the G group were in 9/34 (26.5%) and 21/34 (61.8%) patients, respectively. Patients’. Patient’s age (low back pain G/P, 21.0/36.5 years)), was significantly loweryounger in the G group of low back pain (p = 0.001). High intensity change inof the protruded nucleus pulposus (NP) and the spinal canal occupancy by theof NP ≥ 40% were significantly highhighly observed in those withthe leg pain in the G groups (14/21,: p = 0.04; and 13/21,: p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: The efficacy of improvement inof leg pain was significantlyhighly correlated with high intensity change and size of the protruded NP. Condoliase was not significantly effective forto low back pain, but could might be expected have anthe effect onto younger patients.

Background and objectives: Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion (OLIF) is a widely performed, minimally invasive technique to achieve lumbar lateral interbody fusion. However, some complications can arise due to constraints posed by the limited surgical space and visual field. The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term postoperative clinical outcomes of microendoscopy-assisted OLIF (ME-OLIF) compared to conventional OLIF. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated 75 consecutive patients who underwent OLIF or ME-OLIF. The age, sex, diagnosis, and number of fused levels were obtained from medical records. Operation time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and intraoperative complications were also collected. Operation time and EBL were only measured per level required for the lateral procedure, excluding the posterior fixation surgery. The primary outcome measure was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ). The secondary outcome measure was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the European Quality of Life–5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), measured preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Results: This case series consisted of 14 patients in the OLIF group and 61 patients in the ME-OLIF group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean operative time and EBL (p = 0.90 and p = 0.50, respectively). The perioperative complication rate was 21.4% in the OLIF group and 21.3% in the ME-OLIF group (p = 0.99). In both groups, the postoperative JOABPEQ, EQ-5D, and ODI scores improved significantly (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although there was no significant difference in clinical results between the two surgical methods, the results suggest that both are safe surgical methods and that microendoscopy-assisted OLIF could serve as a potential alternative to the conventional OLIF procedure.

Background: Highly migrated cervical disc herniations are rare, and the optimal surgical approach remains uncertain. When located in the median or paramedian position, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion are preferentially selected, whereas posterior approaches are often considered for cases with radiculopathy. Case Description: A 40-year-old woman presented with right C6 radicular symptoms without any specific triggering event. She initially experienced symptom relief through medication and an ultrasound-guided nerve block 4 years previously. The symptoms recurred 2 months before presentation and did not improve with conservative treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a paramedian herniation on the right side, migrating downward from the C5/6-disc level to the inferior border of the pedicle. Posterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) with partial pediculotomy was performed under general anesthesia with transcranial motor-evoked potential monitoring. The operative time was 56 min. The patient experienced immediate symptom relief, mobilized 3 h postoperatively, and was discharged the following day. Conclusion: PECD with partial pediculotomy is a minimally invasive and effective option for treating highly down-migrated cervical disc herniation, offering reduced tissue disruption, faster recovery, and excellent clinical outcomes.

Background: Posterior full-endoscopic cervical discectomy (pFECD) is a minimally invasive technique for removing highly migrated cervical disc herniations (CDHs). However, the optimal working corridor and extent of bone resection must be individually tailored according to the direction and degree of disc migration in each patient. Methods: Two cases of highly migrated CDH were treated using pFECD with tailored bone removal. Case 1 (previously published) involved caudal migration of a C5/6 disc, which required partial pediculotomy. Case 2 involved cephalad migration of a C6/7 CDH, which was treated with partial upper pediculectomy. Results: In both cases, the migrated disc fragments – both cephalad and caudal – were completely removed without any neurological sequelae. Conclusion: Partial cephalad and caudal pediculotomy represents a safe and effective technical modification of the pFECD approach for significantly migrated CDHs.

Background: Ligamentum flavum hematoma (LFH) rarely causes neural compression in the thoracic region. Here, a 74-year-old female presented with a progressive paraparesis attributed to T10-T11 LFH that was successfully removed utilizing a microendoscopic hemilaminectomy decompressive technique. Case Description: A 74-year-old female jazz dance instructor presented with a progressive thoracic mild paraparesis. The magnetic resonance (MR) revealed a posterior T10-T11 likely LFH epidural mass compressing the spinal cord. She successfully underwent a microendoscopic hemilaminectomy through a 16-mm tubular retractor. Intraoperatively, a dark reddish hematoma was found within the ligamentum flavum and was successfully separated from the dura despite marked adhesions. The histopathology was diagnostic of an LFH. Postoperatively, the patient’s paraparesis immediately improved postoperatively, and the MR confirmed adequate spinal cord decompression. Conclusion: Microendoscopic hemilaminectomy provided excellent visualization for total resection of a T10-T11 LFH.