Comparison of unilateral biportal endoscopy and microendoscopy for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis

HU Hui-lin; LIU Xiong-wen; TAN Bin; LIU Shao-ye; MO Zong-ping

doi:10.13820/j.cnki.gdyx.20241011

Abstract：Objective To compare the efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy(UBE)and microendoscopy(MED)in performing laminotomy for decompression in single-level lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods A comparative a-nalysis was conducted on 86 patients with single-level lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent surgery,with 45 cases in the UBE group and 41 cases in the MED group.Surgical time and postoperative bed rest duration were recorded.Pain visual analog scale(VAS)scores were assessed preoperatively,on the third day postoperatively,one week postoperatively,and at the final follow-up.The Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)was evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up.Surgical outcomes were assessed using the modified Macnab criteria at the final follow-up.Results All 86 patients suc-cessfully underwent surgery and were followed up for 12 to 33 months.The UBE group had a longer surgical time(P＜0.05)and shorter postoperative bed rest duration(P＜0.05)compared to the MED group.Both groups showed signifi-cant improvement in postoperative VAS scores and ODI compared to preoperative values(P＜0.05),with no significant differences between the two groups at different time points(P＞0.05).According to the modified Macnab criteria,the ex-cellent and good rate was 91.11％in the UBE group and 90.24％in the MED group,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).In the UBE group,there was one case of intraoperative dural tear and one case of postoperative nerve root traction-induced numbness and weakness,both of which resolved with symptomatic treatment.In the MED group,there were no intraoperative dural tears,but two cases of postoperative nerve root traction-induced numbness and weakness,both of which resolved with symptomatic treatment.Conclusion UBE and MED techniques have similar clini-cal efficacy in treating single-level lumbar spinal stenosis.UBE is associated with longer surgical time but shorter postop-erative bed rest duration compared to MED.