functionality status and surgical outcome of fenestration versus laminotomy discectomy in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Background aim: to assess functionality status and surgical outcome of fenestration versus laminotomy technique based on core outcome measures index (comi) in patients with lumbar disc hernia (ldh).methods materials/patients: a crosssectional study was performed between january 2007 and april 2012. a total of 108 patients with a singlelevel disc herniation were asked to respond to the oswestry disabiltiy index (odi) and comi at two points in time: pre and postoperative assessments. the odi and comi were assessed comparing patients pre and postoperative scores to determine the functionality status and surgical outcome.results: the mean age of patients was 52.4 (sd=10.1) years who underwent fenestration (n=45) or laminotomy discectomy (n=63). the mean clinical followup was 27.8 (sd=3.6) months (range 24 37 months). regarding comi scores, all subgroup values showed statistical significance pre and postoperative indicating improvements on the outcomes and functionality. the change in the odi after surgery was strongly correlated with change in the comi, (r=0.79; p<.001). the odi score also was found to be statistically different between the groups in preand postoperative (p<.001) assessment. however, the functionality status rate was similar in both groups.conclusion: the findings suggest that fenestration or laminotomy discectomy is an efficacious procedure for treatment of ldh. however, both methods are equally effective in surgical outcome.