Comparative Effects of Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Geriatric Lumbar Disc Herniation

ObjectiveTo analyze and compare the therapeutic effects and surgical parameters of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS-TLIF) versus Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (Endo-TLIF) for treating elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation.MethodsThis study enrolled eighty elderly patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation who received treatment between January 2023 and December 2024. Based on the surgical procedure performed, patients were allocated into two equal groups. The control group included forty patients who underwent Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion, and the study group consisted of forty patients treated with Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. The clinical efficacy and perioperative metrics were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe study group exhibited significantly less intraoperative blood loss, shorter surgical time, and a reduced period of postoperative bed rest relative to the control group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). However, the study group required a greater number of intraoperative fluoroscopy exposures (<italic>P </italic>&lt; 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, either before or after treatment, regarding the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Visual Analog Scale scores (VAS), range of motion, or intervertebral space height (<italic>P </italic>&gt; 0.05). Moreover, the patient satisfaction rate was significantly higher in the study group at 92.5 percent, compared to 75.0 percent in the control group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05).ConclusionFor treating lumbar disc herniation in elderly patients, both Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion demonstrate comparable efficacy in functional recovery and pain intensity reduction. However, the endoscopic technique is associated with significantly shorter operative times and substantially higher patient satisfaction rates.