Is Close Supervision by a Senior Surgeon Necessary During the Initial Days of Performing Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy? A Retrospective Comparative Study between Two Fellowship Trained Surgeons to Assess the Learning Curve.

Objectives: Endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a minimally invasive technique with a steep learning curve. The studies in the literature base the learning curve on the operative duration. We conducted this study to determine the learning curve based on the presence or absence of supervision by an experienced surgeon.

The Transaxillary Approach as a Direct Route in the Management of Upper Thoracic Spine Pathology: A Technical Note with Case Series.

This retrospective case series of prospective data aims to describe the transaxillary approach for the treatment of upper thoracic spine pathology. Various surgical techniques and approaches have been reported across the literature to address upper thoracic spine pathology, including the cervicothoracic approach, anterior transsternal approach, posterolateral approach, supraclavicular approach, and lateral parascapular approaches. These techniques are invasive.

Relationships between the Spinal Dural Pulsations and the Short-Term Efficacy of Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection.

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) causes low back pain, leg pain, numbness in the leg, and neurogenic intermittent claudication. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) has been used for treating spinal stenosis symptoms. We hypothesized that dural pulsation was variable for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Transpedicular Intrabody Cage Technique for the Management of Kummell Disease.

Background: The treatment of Kummell disease remains controversial, with a wide variety of options proposed in the literature. This study aims to introduce a unique and minimally invasive approach for the treatment of Kummell disease and present the clinical results of this technique.

Methods: Twenty patients underwent surgery using the minimally invasive surgery transpedicular intrabody cage (MISTIC) technique from 2014 to 2016.

Development and Validation of an Online Calculator to Predict Proximal Junctional Kyphosis After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Using Machine Learning.

Objective: Although adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery aims to restore and maintain alignment, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) may occur. While existing scoring systems predict PJK, they predominantly offer a generalized 3-tier risk classification, limiting their utility for nuanced treatment decisions. This study seeks to establish a personalized risk calculator for PJK, aiming to enhance treatment planning precision.

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation with postoperative paraplegia-A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Spinal cord herniation is an uncommon diagnosis. There should be a high index of suspicion to diagnose spinal cord herniation when a patient presents with incomplete neurological deficits. Surgical repair of the hernia can have postoperative complications with new neurological deficits and they should be considered during the treatment.

Uniportal full endoscopic spinous process-preserving laminectomy for bilateral decompression in cervical stenotic myelopathy: patient series.

Background: Endoscopic decompression for cervical stenotic myelopathy has several advantages over conventional open surgery. However, sometimes performing bilateral decompression, especially contralateral decompression, can be dangerous. The cervical spine has specific characteristics, including a shallower lamina angle and thinner lamina than the lumbar or thoracic lamina.

Uniportal versus biportal endoscopic spine surgery: a comprehensive review.

Introduction: Endoscopic spine surgery techniques are minimally invasive alternatives to conventional open surgery for degenerative spinal diseases. Clinical studies and meta-analyses have proven the usefulness of uniportal full-endoscopic spine procedures. However, a steep learning curve is a critical barrier for endoscopic procedures.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of conventional and interlaminar full-endoscopic decompressive laminectomy to treat lumbar spinal stenosis (ENDO-F trial): Protocol for a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common spinal degenerative condition. Minimally invasive interlaminar full-endoscopic decompressive laminectomy provides greater patient satisfaction and faster recovery than open decompressive laminectomy. The aim of our randomized controlled trial will be to compare the safety and efficacy of interlaminar full-endoscopic laminectomy and open decompressive laminectomy.

Pelvic Incidence-Lumbar Lordosis Mismatch Is Predisposed to Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Single-Level Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Objective: Spinopelvic parameters play important roles in clinical outcomes and disability after short-segment fusion surgery for degenerative spine disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative or postoperative spinopelvic parameters and symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgery at the L4-5 segments.

Methods: All patients who underwent single-level ALIF at the L4-5 level from January 2010 to December 2013 and were followed up for 5 years were analyzed.

Bibliometric analysis and description of research trends on transforaminal full-endoscopic approach on the spine for the last two-decades.

Objective: The study aims to assess the current development status of transforaminal full-endoscopic spine surgery (TFES) by exploring and analyzing the published literature to obtain an overview of this field and discover the evolution and emerging topics that are underrepresented.

Methods: Using Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer, we analyzed the bibliometric data selected from the Web of Science Core Collection between January 2002 and November 2022. The descriptive and evaluative analyses of authors, institutes, countries, journals, keywords, and references are compiled.

Treatment of dural tear with nerve root herniation after unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression using an epidural blood patch: a case report.

We present a case of a dural tear associated with nerve root herniation following unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression (UBED) that was successfully treated using a computed tomography-guided epidural blood patch. A 60-year-old man underwent UBED for radicular pain because of spinal stenosis at L4-5. A left partial hemilaminectomy and flavectomy were performed; however, the left dorsolateral side dura mater was torn during the procedure.

Transforaminal Endoscopic Decompression for Foraminal Stenosis: Single-Arm Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Objective: The objective of the study was to conduct a single-arm meta-analysis and comprehensive systematic review to identify the efficacy and safety of transforaminal endoscopic surgery for the treatment of lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS).

Methods: The meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched from inception to February 20, 2022.

Unilateral BIPORTAL endoscopic translaminar approach to treat up-migrated lumbar disc herniation: 12 cases report.

Objective: There are difficulties on removing migrated disc herniation (MDH) using a microscope. The purpose of this study was to introduce a unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) translaminar approach to treat up-migrated lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Patients And Methods: A total of 12 patients from March 2021 to February 2022 with up-migrated LDH were treated with a UBE translaminar approach.

Comparison of Pain Reduction and Changes in Serum Cortisol and Glucose Levels to Different Doses of Lumbar Epidural Dexamethasone: A Prospective Study.

Background: Lumbar epidural steroid injection (LESI) is an effective treatment for low back pain. However, it may result in increased blood glucose levels, decreased plasma cortisol concentrations, and suppression of the adrenocorticotropic hormone axis.

Objective: We investigated the effects of 4 mg and 8 mg of dexamethasone as an LESI on back pain and the resulting changes in serum cortisol and glucose levels.

Comparative Analysis of Transforaminal Endoscopic Thoracic Discectomy and Microscopic Discectomy for Symptomatic Thoracic Disc Herniation.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic thoracic discectomy (TETD) and microscopic discectomy (MD) for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic disc herniation (TDH).

Methods: Seventy-seven patients (mean, 55.9 years; follow-up, 11.

Usefulness of Source Images of Magnetic Resonance Myelograms and Partial Laminectomy for Interlaminar Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy at L5-S1: A Technical Note and Preliminary Clinical Results.

Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to assess the clinical and radiologic outcomes and introduce the technical notes from 10 patients who underwent interlaminar endoscopic lumbar discectomy (IELD) at L5-S1 using the source images of magnetic resonance (MR) myelograms and performing partial laminectomy. A biportal endoscopic system was used to perform partial laminectomy, followed by fragmentectomy and subtotal discectomy using a uniportal endoscopic system. The source images of MR myelograms were used to identify the anatomical relationship between the herniated disc material, L5 and S1 nerve roots, the thecal sac, and L5 lamina.

Full Endoscopic Surgery for Thoracic Pathology: Next Step after Mastering Lumbar and Cervical Endoscopic Spine Surgery?

Thoracic disc herniation and stenosis are relatively rare, and various symptoms make them difficult to diagnose. Due to the complexity of neural and vascular structure, surgical treatment of thoracic pathology is challenging. Endoscopic spine surgery is an emerging minimally invasive surgical option.

Neuropathic pain due to compression of cervical medial branch by cervical Juxtafacet cyst: A case report.

In the current report, we describe an interesting case of cervical juxtafacet that developed outside the intervertebral foramen, compressing the cervical medial branch and causing neuropathic pain in the posterior inferior neck pain. A 61-year-old woman visited a local pain clinic due to neuropathic pain with a tingling and burning nature (numeric rating scale [NRS]: 5 out of 10) on the left posterior inferior neck area for 4 months. Paresthesia was observed in the left posterior inferior neck area.

Comparative Analysis of ABM/P-15, Bone Morphogenic Protein and Demineralized Bone Matrix after Instrumented Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Objective: ABM/P-15 (anorganic bone matrix/15-amino acid peptide fragment) is a commercially available synthetically manufactured P-15 collagen peptide fragment, that is adsorbed on ABM. This study was done to investigate the efficacy of ABM/ P-15 in achieving fusion in the lumbar spine and comparing it with that of recombinant bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM).

Methods: A retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data of 140 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgeries in a single specialty spine hospital between 2016 and 2020, with a minimum 6-month follow-up was conducted.