Endoscopic treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease: a narrative review of Full-Endoscopic and Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery

BACKGROUND

Degenerative lumbar spine disease is the leading cause of disability and work absenteeism worldwide. Lumbar microdiscectomy became the standard treatment for herniated discs and stenotic disease. With the evolution of different techniques, endoscopic spinal surgery emerged to minimize the surgical footprint while providing at least non-inferior results. Currently, two different types of endoscopic spine procedures are dominating the surgical scenario: "Full-Endoscopic" (FE) and Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic"(UBE) Spine Surgery. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze their indications, their technical characteristicswithitsadvantagesanddisadvantagesofbothtechniquesandtheirfuture trends.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review of the most relevant articles published up to August 2023 through a Pub Med search. The search terms "Full-Endoscopic Spine Surgery" and "Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery" were used. The articles selected, were independently reviewed by 3 authors and 55 full text articles were reviewed.

RESULTS

The FE and UBE Spine Surgery techniques were described. The FE technique is performed with a monoportal access under constant saline irrigation. The FE comprises the transforaminal and the interlaminar approaches, and the indication depends from the pathology to treat, and still remains controversial. UBE can approach also the spine from a posterior, postero lateral,and para spinal route. It uses two different ports addressed to a target with continuous irrigation. The process of establishing these two portals is called triangulation.

CONCLUSION

FE and UBE spine surgery have demonstrated outcomes comparable to open surgery, minimizing complications and surgical footprint.

How I do it: the biportal endoscopic inclined-ipsilateral technique to decompress the lumbar lateral recess

BACKGROUND

Various full-endoscopic techniques have been developed to reach the lateral recess of the lumbar spine. However, specialized surgical tools, including expensive spinal endoscopic systems, and a steeper learning curve to mastering the technique are required.

METHOD

We present a novel target-addressed unilateral biportal endoscopic technique to reach directly the lumbar lateral recess, particularly useful at L4-L5 and L5-S1. The technique follows an inclined-ipsilateral trajectory to preserve the lateral extension of ligamentum flavum and the facet joint as much as possible.

CONCLUSION

This technique was associated with all the advantages of minimally invasive decompressive procedures and outstanding outcomes.

How to deal with this complication: Intraoperative anterior cage migration in L5-S1 resolved with a lumbar hybrid fusion technique

Anterior cage migration is the most infrequent and dangerous complication seen in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedures. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who underwent PLIF at the L5-S1 level. During the surgery, one of the PLIF-cages dislodged anteriorly into the abdominal cavity without vascular injury. An anterior retroperitoneal approach to remove the cage and complete the fusion was made. The patient was discharged 2 weeks later with encouraging clinical results. In a patient hemodynamically stable, removing the cage by a vascular surgeon, and complete the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion could be a feasible option at L5-S1.

Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic-Guided Transcorporeal Vertebroplasty with Neural Decompression for Treating a Traumatic Lumbar Fracture of L5

BACKGROUND

Lumbar burst fractures (complete or incomplete) of L5 have a low incidence, accounting for 1.2% of all spinal burst fractures. Treatment for these fractures remains controversial. Decompression of neural elements and stabilization of the spine to preserve lordosis and avoid kyphotic deformity are recommended when a patient has a neurological deficit and an unstable fracture. Otherwise, the fracture could be managed conservatively.

METHODS

We report a detailed step-by-step unilateral biportal endoscopy technique used in a patient with an L5 incomplete burst fracture and neurological deficit.

RESULTS

The patient had an acceptable immediate postoperative course; lower back pain and radicular symptoms improved significantly after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our unilateral biportal endoscopy technique for L5 incomplete burst fractures offers the capability to perform enough decompression of neural elements and assist other procedure-related maneuvers under direct endoscopic visualization. This technique could be considered another minimally invasive spine surgery option for treating selected patients with L5 incomplete burst fractures.

Ten-Step Biportal Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Under Computed Tomography-Based Intraoperative Navigation: Technical Report and Preliminary Outcomes in Mexico

BACKGROUND

The principal advantage of intraoperative spinal navigation is the ease of screw placement. However, visualization and the integration of navigation can be explored with the use of navigation-guided full-endoscopic techniques.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the stepwise intraoperative navigation-assisted unilateral biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (UBE-TLIF) technique and to present our preliminary results in a Mexican population.

METHODS

A 10-step summary of the UBE-TLIF operative technique was described, and the clinical and radiological results are presented and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 7 patients were treated. We observed the value of integrating navigation and endoscopic visualization when decompression had to be performed.

CONCLUSION

Together, intraoperative navigation and direct visualization through the endoscope may be a useful surgical tool for surgeons with experience in endoscopic spinal surgery.

Minimally Invasive Craniocervical Decompression for Chiari 1 Malformation: An Operative Technique

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) is an ectopia of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum that causes severe disability due to its neurologic symptoms. The treatment of choice for CM-1 is decompression of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). In some patients only an extradural decompression by removing the atlanto-occipital ligament may be sufficient. In other patients, duraplasty is necessary. In this case, we report the operative technique used to treat a CM-1 in a 16-year-old male patient who presented with severe headache and gait instability. A micro-decompression of the suboccipital bone and posterior arch osteotomy of C1 through a 2-cm midline incision was performed under surgical microscope magnification. A duraplasty was performed through the same approach. The patient was discharged home after 2 days in the hospital and returned to regular activities at school 3 weeks after surgery. The minimally invasive technique presented here is a viable option for the posterior decompression of the CVJ in patients with CM-1 using a low-cost self-retaining retractor.

Microscopy-assisted interspinous tubular approach for lumbar spinal stenosis

Various minimally invasive techniques have been reported as an alternative to conventional lumbar decompression. The major advantage of these minimally invasive procedures lies in their reduction of unnecessary exposure and tissue trauma. Our objective was to describe a minimally invasive procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis decompression by enlarging the lumbar interspinous space, approaching it with a tubular retractor, and assisting with microscopy. Thoracolumbar fascia and paravertebral muscles are preserved throughout the whole procedure. Iatrogenic instability of the spine can be avoided if during the procedure both joints are just undercut in order to decompress the subarticular space. The approach described in this manuscript could be used as an alternate minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of central and lateral lumbar spinal stenosis.

A prospective clinical study comparing MI-TLIF with unilateral versus bilateral transpedicular fixation in low grade lumbar spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) has become one of the standard techniques for approaching ipsilateral decompression, anterior column fusion, and posterior stabilization. This procedure is usually accompanied by the placement of bilateral transpedicular screws in the corresponding segment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of unilateral screw fixation compared with bilateral fixation in patients diagnosed with low-grade symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent an MI-TLIF technique.

METHODS

A prospective and comparative study was performed in 67 patients with grade 1 symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis. The sample was allocated on both unilateral fixation group (n=33) and bilateral fixation group (n=34). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg and back pain, and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), preoperatively, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Changes over time and differences between the groups were analyzed. Statistical analyses included: Friedman test, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney's U. A two-tailed P value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

During 1-year of evaluation there were no significant clinical differences between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with grade 1 symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis treated with MI-TLIF with unilateral screw fixation had similar clinical results than those treated with bilateral fixation at 12 months postoperatively.

[Spinal extradural arachnoid cyst: A case report and review of literature]

BACKGROUND

Arachnoid cysts of spine are a very rare occurrence. The aetiology still remains unclear, but the most accepted explanation is the existence of areas of weakness in the spinal dura. Symptoms depend on the location in the spine. Magnetic resonance imaging is used for its diagnosis. Management depends of clinical presentation, and the surgery is reserved for patients with neurological impairment.

CLINICAL CASE

A case is described of 67 year-old male with myelopathy and radiculopathy symptoms, both diagnosed simultaneously. The magnetic resonance imaging was used to diagnose a thoracolumbar extradural arachnoid cyst from T12-L2 and lumbar spinal canal stenosis. The patient was treated with a puncture procedure to empty the cyst and decompress the neural elements. There was a clinical improvement of myelopathy syndrome after puncture procedure. One month later, the patient underwent a minimally invasive surgical approach to decompress the neural elements in lumbar spine, achieving improvement of the radiculopathy syndrome and neurogenic claudication in both legs.

CONCLUSION

There is currently no standard minimally invasive approach to surgically treat these cysts, but if the patient has mild symptoms, clinical observation is recommended.