Combined transarticular lateral and medial approach with partial facetectomy for lumbar foraminal stenosis

The authors performed a microsurgical combined transarticular lateral and medial procedure with partial facetectomy in 24 patients (16 men and nine women) with lumbar intervertebral foraminal stenosis to decompress the affected nerve root. The goal of this surgery was to maintain the integrity of the facet joint, to guarantee satisfactory exploration, and to obtain a sufficient decompression of the intervertebral foramen. Because only minimal bone resection is required, the risk of secondary instability induced by complete facetectomy is avoided. The clinical results of this procedure were excellent in the majority of cases. The mean follow-up period was 21.8 months.