Hong Kong patient receives revision lumbar-disc surgery at HKU Shenzhen
After recurrent pain following a January operation, the patient underwent lateral-approach endoscopic L4/5 disc removal under local anaesthesia in early July.
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A Hong Kong patient with recurrent pain after lumbar surgery underwent a revision endoscopic procedure at the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital. The team selected a lateral approach to avoid nerve adhesions from the earlier operation. He was discharged the following day and reported little pain several days later.
Pain returned after the first operation
Mr Li, a pseudonym, had severe back pain and stabbing pain down his left leg in January 2025. Movement was restricted and both standing and sitting were difficult. Another hospital diagnosed lumbar disc herniation and performed a conventional lumbar laminotomy.
Pain eased slightly at first, then quickly returned and worsened. Several conservative treatments did not relieve the left-leg symptoms. Friends recommended Shenzhen, and he attended the hospital’s spine surgery service in late June.
Wu Tailin examined him and reviewed his images, confirming L4/5 disc herniation. Wu discussed the records with spine surgeon Fan Degang.
Changing the route around scar-related adhesions
Assessment found severe nerve adhesions after the earlier posterior operation, increasing the difficulty and risk of nerve injury during another procedure.
The team chose a lateral rather than the previous posterior approach, planning an incision of about one centimetre to avoid the adherent area.
In early July, Fan’s team began transforaminal endoscopic removal of the herniated disc material at 9 a.m. Li remained awake under local anaesthesia. He recalled initial nervousness, then reassurance as he heard the team’s discussion during the operation.
Early walking and next-day discharge
The procedure lasted approximately two hours. No drain was required afterwards, and Li tried getting out of bed and walking with staff assistance.
The spine nursing team provided rehabilitation management, and he was discharged the next day. The hospital described near disappearance of his previous severe pain. Li said that several days after surgery, he still had little pain, beyond the immediate period when he had wondered whether anaesthesia explained the relief.