Efficacy Analysis of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy Combined with PEEK Rods for Giant Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective. This study describes a randomized controlled trial that assesses percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) combined with a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rod in patients with GLDH (herniation affecting 50% of the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal) and reports the 2-year follow-up outcome. Methods. In all, 243 patients were randomly assigned to undergo PELD or PELD combined with a PEEK rod by generating random numbers with a random number generator. Clinical outcome data, including the numerical rating scale (NRS), were used to assess the patients’ back and leg pain, while the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to quantify pain and disability. Imaging data included intervertebral disc height (IDH), range of motion (ROM), and modified Pfirrmann grades. Results. At the final follow-up, the NRS for back and leg pain and the ODI scores were significantly decreased in both groups. The NRS for back pain and the ODI scores in the PELD + PEEK group (1.32 ± 0.70, 14.10 ± 4.74) were better than those in the PELD group (1.91 ± 0.69, 16.93 ± 4.33) (P