Fig. 2

Typical case 2. A 53-year-old male with recurrent low back pain accompanied by right lower limb radiating numbness and pain for six months, aggravating for 10 days. Sagittal MRI and CT show disc herniation and instability at L4/5 level (a, b). Achieve the foraminoplasty and laminectomy to have enough room for decompression (c). Clear the disc space with a scraper (d). Test and adjust the mould of cage by intraoperative fluoroscopy (e). Implant cage with working channel or nerve root retractor (f). Perform secondary endoscopic exploration and clear the disc space (g). Postoperative surgical incision (h). Lateral X-ray one month after surgery (i). Lateral X-ray 1 year after surgery (j)