Table 1. Summary of the detailed features of the 11 cases of large central LDH.
| Case No. | Sex | Age (years) | Chief complaint | Gait disturbance | Muscle weakness | Disc level | Spinal canal stenosis | Approach side | Skin incision** (cm) | Foraminoplasty | Operative time (min) | Removed volume (g) | Hospital stay (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M | 22 | Left leg pain | (+) | (−) | L3/4 | (−) | L | 7 | (+) | 33 | 1.6 | 3 |
| 2 | F | 31 | Right leg pain | (+) | EHL 4/5 | L4/5 | (−) | R | 7 | (−) | 38 | 4.0 | 2 |
| 3 | F | 36 | Left leg pain | (−) | EHL 4/5 | L4/5 | (−) | L | 7.5 | (−) | 41 | 1.9 | 3 |
| 4 | M | 32 | Right leg pain | (−) | EHL 4/5 | L4/5 | (−) | R | 9 | (−) | 27 | 2.9 | 3 |
| 5 | M | 72 | Bilateral leg pain | (−) | (−) | L3/4 | (+) | R | 7.5 | (−) | 55 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 6 | F | 29 | Right leg numbness | (−) | EHL 1/5 | L4/5 | (−) | R | 9 | (−) | 58 | 2.4 | 2 |
| 7 | M | 66 | Bilateral leg pain | (+) | TA 1/3 | L3/4 | (−) | L | 8 | (−) | 37 | 2.0 | 13 |
| 8 | F | 67 | Right leg pain | (+) | (−) | L4/5 | (+) | R | 8 | (+) | 27 | 1.1 | 3 |
| 9 | M | 47 | Right leg pain | (−) | Gastro 2/2 | L4/5 | (−) | R | 9 | (−) | 29 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 10 | M | 42 | Left leg pain | (+) | (−) | L3/4 | (−) | L | 8 | (−) | 38 | 2.3 | 3 |
| 11 | M | 41 | Left leg pain | (−) | (−) | L4/5 | (−) | L | 10 | (−) | 36 | 2.8 | 2 |
**, the distance from the midline to the skin incision; +, presence; −, absence. EHL, extensor hallucis longus; TA, tibialis anterior; Gastro, gastrocnemius; LDH, lumbar disc herniation; M, male; F, female; L, left; R, right.