Tiny camera surgery may beat standard back procedure for faster pain relief
NCT ID NCT06615518
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study compared two minimally invasive surgeries for herniated discs: full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) and microdiscectomy (MD). Researchers enrolled 200 adults aged 18-85 with single-level disc herniation and sciatica. The goal was to see which technique provides better early pain relief and faster recovery, while also using MRI scans to guide treatment decisions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) and microdiscectomy (MD) surgical procedures
- What this could lead to
- If FELD proves superior, it could offer patients a less invasive option with faster recovery and less early pain after surgery for herniated discs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study with 200 participants, so results are available but may not apply to all patients. Both surgeries carry standard surgical risks like infection or nerve damage.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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200 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 85 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18-85 years with symptoms of sciatica lasting more than 6 weeks * Shorter duration in cases where symptoms significantly impair normal functioning or in cases of muscle strength deficits * Symptoms correlate with MRI findings of lumbar spine pathology, showing the presence of intervertebral disc herniation (protrusion, extrusion, or sequestration) causing nerve root compression in the lumbar spine. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous lumbar spine surgery in the lumbar-sacral region * MRI findings showing degenerative or stenotic spinal canal changes * Multi-level pathology where identification of the pain source is not possible * Pregnancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Uniwesytecki Szpital Kliniczny
Opole, Opole Voivodeship, 45-001, Poland
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Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im Św Jadwigi w Opolu
Opole, Opole Voivodeship, 45-221, Poland
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