Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical value of press-down enlargement of foramen technique in percutaneous transforminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for high iliac crest L5/S1 disc herniation.Methods From October 2016 to January 2019, 45 patients with high iliac crest L5/S1 disc herniation were treated with press-down enlargement of foramen technique in PTED surgery. Record the data as follows: the number of puncture, the number of X-ray, the time of set up the working channel and the total time of the operation. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate low back pain and leg pain before surgery, 1 day after surgery, 3 months after surgery, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. MacNab standard was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy at the last follow-up.Results The surgery of all these patients completed successfully. The success rate of one puncture was 91.11%. The number of X-ray was 5 ~ 18 times, with an average of (13.36 ± 4.77) times. The time to establish the working channel was 15 ~ 28 min, with an average of (20.36 ± 6.17) min. The total operation time was 50 ~ 98 min, with an average of (75.39 ± 19.68) min. The postoperative low back pain and leg pain were significantly relieved and lumbar function was significantly improved compared with that before surgery. VAS score and ODI of lower back pain and leg pain were significantly lower at the 1st day, 3 months after surgery, 6 months after surgery and the last follow-up than before surgery (P < 0.05). According to the standard efficacy evaluation of MacNab, 40 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, 1 case was general, and 1 case was poor. The excellent and good rate was 95.56%.Conclusion There were several features such as more simple, high puncture success rate, high safety and effective, less complications, fewer X-ray, more excellent clinical effect and so on to use press-down enlargement of foramen technique in PTED. The press-down enlargement of foramen technique is a good surgical option worthy of clinical popularization and application.