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Updated: May 4, 2026
Author Spotlight: Scope of LE-ULBD as a Safe, Effective, and Minimally Invasive Approach to Treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Published on: February 9, 2024
Bilateral decompression using a unilateral pedicle construct for lumbar stenosis
Lu Mao1, Jie Zhao, Ke-Rong Dai
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
Purpose:
To determine the effectiveness of bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach using unilateral pedicle screw fixation for two-level lumbar stenosis with instability.
Methods:
Between October 2006 and October 2010, 98 patients (61 men and 37 women) who had reached the three-year follow-up interval were treated with unilateral pedicle screw fixation at the authors' institution. All patients underwent two-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and the mean age was 59.6 years (range, 40-72). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess the pre-operative and postoperative clinical results. Fusion status, the disc space height, and the whole lumbar lordotic angle were analysed for the radiological evaluation.
Results:
The ODI scores decreased significantly in both early and late follow-up evaluations and the visual analog scale (VAS) score demonstrated significant improvement in late follow-up (P < 0.01). The disc space height (P < 0.05) and the whole lumbar lordotic angle (P < 0.05) were increased at the final follow-up. Successful fusion was achieved in all patients.
Conclusion:
Bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach using unilateral pedicle screw fixation for two-level lumbar stenosis with instability, which can maintain the lumbar lordosis and the disc space height, is an effective and less invasive method than with bilateral constructs.
