Randomized Controlled Clinical Study of Biplanar Ultrasound-guided Puncture of Lumbar Interforamen

Randomized Controlled Clinical Study to Validate the Clinical Accuracy and Safety of Biplanar Ultrasound-guided Puncture of Lumbar Interforamen in Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare Xplane ultrasound with radiography for guidance of lumbar interforamen puncture in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

• The feasibility that the Xplane ultrasound assists surgeon in mastering lumbar interforamen puncture faster than radiography.
• The clinical accuracy and safety of the Xplane ultrasound-guidance lumbar interforamen puncture faster.

Participants will undergo lumbar interforamen puncture with guidance of Xplane ultrasound or radiography. If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare the first success rate, number of punctures, number of radiographies, puncture time and operator confidence score.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 16 to 80 years of age;
2. symptoms and confirmatory signs of lumbar radiculopathy that persisted for at least 6 weeks;
3. LDH at a corresponding level and side on imaging;
4. surgical candidates for epidural steroid injection (ESI) or percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). If the patient underwent ESI and PELD surgery on the same day, we only selected the data for the first one.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. other diseases affecting the spine (tumor, infection, metabolic disease, immune system disease and fractures);
2. body mass index (BMI) greater than 32 kg/m2;
3. pregnancy;
4. refusal to participate;
5. severe mental illnesses in the trial.