COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OUTCOMES OF OPEN OR ENDOSCOPIC SPINAL CORD DECOMPRESSION: INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
Victor Lima Dantas1, Rafael Quixabeira Bezerra de Araújo1, Taynan Siqueira Massaro1
1Hospital Santa Marcelina de Itaquera, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Acta Ortopedica Brasileira
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Endoscopic spinal decompression offers comparable efficacy to open surgery for lumbar conditions, with improved perioperative outcomes. Individualized patient assessment is crucial for selecting the optimal surgical approach.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Spinal cord compression, caused by various factors, presents with diverse neurological deficits.
- Surgical options include traditional open decompression and less invasive endoscopic techniques.
- The elderly population is primarily affected by spinal cord compression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical outcomes of open versus endoscopic spinal decompression.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different surgical approaches for spinal cord compression.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on the PUBMED database.
- Search terms focused on decompression, laminectomy, discectomy, and minimally invasive/endoscopic versus open/traditional techniques.
- Studies published within a 10-year timeframe were included.
Main Results:
- Eleven studies were included in the final analysis.
- Minimally invasive techniques demonstrated clinical efficacy similar to open approaches.
- Endoscopic surgery showed advantages in perioperative parameters compared to open surgery.
Conclusions:
- Endoscopic spinal decompression is a viable alternative to open surgery for specific lumbar conditions.
- Patient-specific factors, lesion complexity, and surgeon expertise should guide technique selection.
- Individualized treatment plans are essential for optimizing outcomes in spinal cord compression surgery.
