Comparative Outcomes in Single-level Lumbar PIVD Treated with Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy versus...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Background:

• Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of low back pain.
• Microscopic lumbar discectomy (MLD) is a traditional surgical approach.
• Unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy (UBE) is a newer minimally invasive technique for LDH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the perioperative and clinical outcomes of UBE and MLD for single-level LDH.
• To evaluate early postoperative pain, functional improvement, surgical efficiency, and complications.
• To assess the long-term efficacy of both surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Prospective comparative study of 30 patients with single-level LDH.
• 15 patients underwent UBE, and 15 underwent MLD.
• Clinical outcomes (Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale) and perioperative parameters (operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, complications) were assessed pre- and post-operatively.

Main Results:

• Both UBE and MLD showed significant long-term functional improvement with similar complication rates.
• UBE demonstrated significantly better early pain relief (VAS scores at 24h, 1 week, 2 weeks) compared to MLD.
• UBE resulted in less blood loss and shorter hospital stays but had longer operative times than MLD.

Conclusions:

• UBE provides comparable long-term outcomes to MLD with added benefits of early pain reduction, less blood loss, and quicker discharge.
• The longer operative time for UBE highlights the need for specialized training and experience.
• UBE is a viable minimally invasive option for LDH, warranting further large-scale studies for standardized protocols and patient selection.