Table 1. Summary of preoperative radiological findings and surgical outcomes in 29 cases of PLA.
| Case No. | Age (year) | Sex | Level | R/L | Type of MRI | Foraminal width (mm) | Foraminal width (mm) | Foraminoplasty | Entry point (cm) | Operation time (minutes) | Postoperative hospital stay (days) | Follow up period (months) | Perope NRS score | Postope NRS score | Previous operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 61 | F | L4/5 | L | Extraforaminal | 13 | 9 | Yes | 7 | 30 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2 | 66 | F | L4/5 | L | Combined | 19 | 8 | Yes | 7 | 36 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | L4/5 laminectomy |
| 3 | 25 | M | L5/S1 | L | Combined | 22 | 9 | No | 5.5 | 34 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 0 | |
| 4 | 46 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 14 | 7 | Yes | 7 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | |
| 5 | 73 | M | L4/5 | R | Extraforaminal | 15 | 7 | Yes | 6 | 27 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 0 | |
| 6 | 69 | M | L4/5 | R | Combined | 18 | 7 | No | 5 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 1 | |
| 7 | 37 | M | L2/3 | R | Combined | 22 | 9 | No | 5 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 3 | |
| 8 | 68 | M | L4/5 | R | Combined | 20 | 8 | Yes | 7.5 | 43 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | |
| 9 | 61 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 16 | 7 | Yes | 5 | 33 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 1 | |
| 10 | 46 | M | L4/5 | R | Combined | 18 | 9 | No | 5 | 26 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 0 | |
| 11 | 49 | M | L4/5 | R | Combined | 13 | 9 | No | 7 | 24 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 0 | |
| 12 | 46 | M | L3/4 | L | Combined | 18 | 9 | No | 5 | 45 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0 | |
| 13 | 66 | M | L3/4 | L | Combined | 19 | 11 | No | 5 | 45 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 0 | L3/4 discectomy |
| 14 | 63 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 15 | 9 | No | 6.5 | 44 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 4 | |
| 15 | 46 | M | L3/4 | L | Combined | 18 | 8 | No | 7 | 38 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 0 | |
| 16 | 72 | M | L4/5 | L | Combined | 16 | 13 | Yes | 6 | 43 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 1 | |
| 17 | 49 | M | L3/4 | L | Extraforaminal | 18 | 9 | No | 6 | 32 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 3 | |
| 18 | 50 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 20 | 8 | No | 8 | 46 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 0 | |
| 19 | 58 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 22 | 7 | No | 9 | 47 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 3 | |
| 20 | 55 | M | L3/4 | L | Extraforaminal | 23 | 7 | No | 9 | 105 | 3 | 24 | 3 | 0 | |
| 21 | 53 | F | L3/4 | R | Combined | 19 | 8 | No | 8 | 45 | 1 | 31 | 5 | 3 | |
| 22 | 65 | F | L5/6 | R | Combined | 14 | 9 | Yes | 6 | 34 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | |
| 23 | 78 | M | L4/5 | R | Combined | 13 | 10 | Yes | 6 | 40 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | L4/5 laminectomy |
| 24 | 83 | F | L3/4 | R | Combined | 15 | 9 | Yes | 6 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | |
| 25 | 29 | M | L3/4 | R | Combined | 21 | 7 | Yes | 6 | 25 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 26 | 47 | F | L4/5 | R | Extraforaminal | 13 | 9 | Yes | 7 | 45 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | |
| 27 | 73 | M | L4/5 | R | Extraforaminal | 19 | 7 | No | 6 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | |
| 28 | 57 | F | L4/5 | R | Combined | 17 | 10 | No | 7 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | |
| 29 | 57 | F | L4/5 | R | Extraforaminal | 19 | 9 | No | 7 | 34 | 16* | 4 | 9 | 7 | L4/5 XLIF |
*, in this case, the muscle weakness in the corresponding leg improved immediately after surgery. The patient required prolonged hospitalization for training to walk without a cane. MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NRS, numerical rating scale; XLIF, eXtreme lateral interbody fusion; L, left; R, right.