THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUES IN NEUROSURGERY

Abstract

Neurosurgery's minimally invasive treatments have become more popular because they may lower the dangers involved with open operations without sacrificing effectiveness. However, a thorough assessment of their efficacy, safety, and comparative results is necessary before they may be widely used. Objective: This research aimed to analyze clinical outcome data to systematically assess the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive procedures in neurosurgery. Methods: The retrospective cohort research was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar from January to December 2022. The power analysis resulted in a sample size of 360 patients. Extensive data extraction from electronic medical records was used for data collecting; this included information on clinical features, long-term follow-up results, intraoperative and postoperative data, and demographics. While inferential statistics, such as chi-square tests, were used to clarify the associations between various factors and surgical outcomes, descriptive statistics were used to characterize the clinical and demographic aspects of the research cohort. Results: A demographic distribution of 33.61% for those aged 20–40, 44.44% for those aged 41–60, and 23.06% for those over 60 was found in the research (n = 360). 55.00% of patients were male, and 45.00% were female. Obesity (20.00%), diabetes (25.00%), and hypertension (30.28%) were among the comorbidities. 60.56% of the preoperative status was independent. 5.28% intraoperative problems, 83.61% success rates, and 14.44% postoperative complications were reported in the surgical results. Compared to open surgery, the success rate for minimally invasive lumbar fusion was considerably more significant (74% vs. 57%, p=0.044). Recurrence rates were 9.17%, and 74.72% of patients had favorable functional results, according to long-term follow-up data. Surgical site infections (8.06%), bleeding (5.00%), and neurological impairments (3.16%) were among the complications. The perioperative results indicated a 3.89% conversion rate to open surgery, an average blood loss of 220 ml, and an operating duration of 3.5 hours. Conclusion: The research highlights favorable surgical results, similar long-term patient outcomes, and uniform perioperative parameters to reinforce the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive neurosurgery. To maximize patient care and safety in neurosurgical practice, issues, including infection control and technology learning curves, need constant attention.