Imaging anatomy study related to unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar spine surgery.

PURPOSE: To provide lumbar spine anatomical parameters relevant to the UBE technique and explore their intraoperative application. METHODS: CT imaging data processed by Mimics for parametric measurements, including laminar abduction angle (LAA), laminar slope angle (LSA), minimum laminar height (MLH), distance between the inferior margin of the lamina and attachment of the ligamentum flavum onto the cephalad lamina (DLL), distance between the initial point and the middle of the articular process (DIA), and distance from the inferior margin of the lamina to the inferior border of the vertebral body (DLV), and were manually measured. RESULTS: LAA and DIA gradually increase from L1 to L5. At L1, the DIA is approximately the length of 2 drill bits with a diameter of 3 mm (male: 7.77 ± 1.39 mm, female: 7.22 ± 1.09 mm), while at L5, it can reach the length of 4-5 drill bits (male: 14.96 ± 2.24 mm, female: 13.67 ± 2.33 mm). MLH, DLL, and DLV reach their maximum values at the L3 and decrease toward the cranial and caudal ends. The DLL is smallest at L5 (male: 9.58 ± 1.90 mm, female: 9.38 ± 2.14 mm), equivalent to the length of 3 drill bits, while the DLL at L3 is the length of 4-5 drill bits (male: 14.17 ± 2.13 mm, female: 14.01 ± 2.07 mm). CONCLUSION: Referring to the drill diameter during surgery can mark the extent of laminotomy. The characteristics of vertebral plate angles at different lumbar levels can provide references for preoperative incision design.

Open posterior approach versus endoscopic approach for thoracic ligamentum flavum ossification: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF), a rare condition more prevalent in East Asia, is managed through open and endoscopic surgical approaches. Determining the superior surgical option remains unclear. This study assesses the safety and clinical outcomes associated with these approaches in TOLF patients. METHODS: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search up to August 5, 2023, across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies reporting complication rates, mJOA (modified Japanese Orthopedic Association) scores, JOA scores, VAS (Visual Analog Scale) scores, or hospitalization duration for both open and endoscopic surgeries in TOLF patients. RESULTS: We analyzed 37 studies encompassing 1,646 TOLF patients using a random-effects model. Our findings revealed a significant difference in complication rates (overall complication rates: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.19; p < 0.01; I2: 69%; quality of evidence: moderate), with lower complication rates in the endoscopy group. However, no significant differences were observed in JOA scores (overall JOA: 8.35; 95% CI: 7.16, 9.54; p = 0.12; I2: 99%; quality of evidence: very low), VAS scores (overall VAS: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.59; p = 0.35; I2: 91%; quality of evidence: very low), or hospitalization duration (hospital stay: 10.83 days; 95% CI: 6.86, 14.80; p = 0.35; I2: 91%; quality of evidence: very low) between the open and endoscopic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis reports lower complication rates and improved postoperative mJOA scores for endoscopic surgery in TOLF patients compared to open surgery. It represents the first comprehensive evaluation of clinical outcomes and safety of different surgical approaches for TOLF patients. Further randomized controlled trials are essential to validate these findings.

Effect of saline irrigation temperature difference on postoperative acute pain and hypothermia during biportal endoscopic spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recently, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have attracted attention; they emphasize on avoiding intraoperative hypothermia while performing lumbar fusion surgery. However, none of the studies have reported the protocol for determining the temperature of saline irrigation during biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) procedure. This study evaluated the effectiveness of warm saline irrigation during BESS in acute postoperative pain and inflammatory reactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients who underwent BESS procedure were retrospectively analyzed for the incidence of perioperative hypothermia (< 36oC), postoperative inflammatory factors (white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum amyloid A (SAA)), and clinical outcomes (back visual analog scale (VAS) score, postoperative shivering). The patients were divided into the warm and cold saline irrigation groups. RESULTS: Hemoglobin, WBC, ESR, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-muscle brain levels did not significantly differ between the warm and cold saline groups. The mean CRP, IL-6, and SAA levels were significantly higher in the cold saline group than in the warm saline group (p = 0.0058, 0.0028, and 0.0246, respectively); back VAS scores were also higher with a statistically significant difference until two days postoperatively (p < 0.001). During the entire procedure, the body temperature was significantly lower in the cold saline irrigation group, but the hypothermia incidence rate significantly differed 30 min after the operation was started. CONCLUSIONS: Using warm saline irrigation during BESS is beneficial for early recovery after surgery, as it is associated with reduced postoperative pain and complication rates.

Comparative outcomes of obese and non-obese patients with lumbar disc herniation receiving full endoscopic transforaminal discectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of full endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (FETD) on clinical outcomes and complications in both obese and non-obese patients presenting with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A systematic search of relevant literature was conducted across various primary databases until November 18, 2023. Operative time and hospitalization were evaluated. Clinical outcomes included preoperative and postoperative assessments of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, conducted to delineate improvements at 3 months postoperatively and during the final follow-up, respectively. Complications were also documented. RESULTS: Four retrospective studies meeting inclusion criteria provided a collective cohort of 258 patients. Obese patients undergoing FETD experienced significantly longer operative times compared to non-obese counterparts (P = 0.0003). Conversely, no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in hospitalization duration, improvement of VAS for back and leg pain scores at 3 months postoperatively and final follow-up, improvement of ODI at 3 months postoperatively and final follow-up. Furthermore, the overall rate of postoperative complications was higher in the obese group (P = 0.02). The obese group demonstrated a total incidence of complications of 17.17%, notably higher than the lower rate of 9.43% observed in the non-obese group. CONCLUSION: The utilization of FETD for managing LDH in individuals with obesity is associated with prolonged operative times and a higher total complication rate compared to their non-obese counterparts. Nevertheless, it remains a safe and effective surgical intervention for treating herniated lumbar discs in the context of obesity.

Full endoscopic surgery for calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) in the cervical ligamentum flavum: report of two cervical myelopathy cases.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), known as pseudogout, is characterized by the accumulation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in musculoskeletal structures, primarily joints. While CPPD commonly affects various joints, involvement in the cervical spine leading to myelopathy is rare. Surgical intervention becomes necessary when conservative measures fail, but reports on full endoscopic surgeries are extremely rare. We present two successful cases where full endoscopic systems were used for CPPD removal in the cervical spine. The surgical technique involved a full endoscopic approach, adapting the previously reported technique for unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression. Full-endoscopic removal of cervical CPPD inducing myelopathy were successfully removed with good clinical and radiologic outcomes. The scarcity of endoscopic cases for cervical ligamentum flavum CPPD is attributed to the condition's rarity. However, our successful cases advocate for endoscopic surgery as a potential primary treatment option for CPPD-induced cervical myelopathy, especially in elderly patients or those with previous cervical operation histories. This experience encourages the consideration of endoscopic surgery for managing cervical ligamentum flavum CPPD as a viable alternative.

Does obesity and varying body mass index affect the clinical outcomes and safety of biportal endoscopic lumbar decompression? A comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic spine surgery has recently grown in popularity due to the potential benefits of reduced pain and faster recovery time as compared to open surgery. Biportal spinal endoscopy has been successfully applied to lumbar disc herniations and lumbar spinal stenosis. Obesity is associated with increased risk of complications in spine surgery. Few prior studies have investigated the impact of obesity and associated medical comorbidities with biportal spinal endoscopy. METHODS: This study was a prospectively collected, retrospectively analyzed comparative cohort design. Patients were divided into cohorts of normal body weight (Bone Mass Index (BMI)18.0-24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) and obese (BMI > 30.0) as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Patients underwent biportal spinal endoscopy by a single surgeon at a single institution for treatment of lumbar disc herniations and lumbar spinal stenosis. Demographic data, surgical complications, and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed. Statistics were calculated amongst treatment groups using analysis of variance and chi square where appropriate. Statistical significance was determined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were followed. 26 (30.1%) were normal BMI, 35 (41.7%) were overweight and 23 (27.4%) were obese. Patients with increasing BMI had correspondingly greater American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) scores. There were no significant differences in VAS Back, VAS Leg, and ODI scores, or postoperative complications among the cohorts. There were no cases of surgical site infections in the cohort. All cohorts demonstrated significant improvement up to 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that obesity is not a risk factor for increased perioperative complications with biportal spinal endoscopy and has similar clinical outcomes and safety profile as compared to patients with normal BMI. Biportal spinal endoscopy is a promising alternative to traditional techniques to treat common lumbar pathology.

How I do it: angiography-assisted full endoscopic treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (sDAVF) is a rare vascular malformation that leads to serious neurological symptoms. We treat a 52-year-old man with sDAVF in the thoracic segment exhibiting uncoordinated gait. METHOD: Thoracic MRI of the lesion indicated myelomalacia and dilated blood vessels, while DSA revealed the right T6 radicular artery as the feeding arteriole. A full endoscopic obliteration of the lesion was performed under angiography guidance in a hybrid operation room. CONCLUSION: The case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary and individualized approach to successfully manage sDAVF using a fully endoscopic approach.

Biportal endoscopic-assisted cortical bone trajectory screw placement and lumbar interbody fusion.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopically assisted screw fixation with lumbar interbody fusion is rarely performed. We succeeded in implanting the cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screws under the guidance of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE). METHOD: We attempted endoscopically assisted screw fixation in a patient with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Through a third portal, ipsilateral CBT screws were implanted without complications. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully performed unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) with CBT and reversed CBT screws. Compared with percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement, this procedure is a minimally invasive, endoscopic alternative that allows precise screw placement.

A novel repair strategy using knotless squeeze anchors for lumbar disc herniation with endplate junction lesions under biportal endoscopic spinal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Annulus fibrosus-endplate (AF-EP) junction lesions are important determinants for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Utilizing biportal endoscopic spinal surgery (BESS), we introduce a novel repair method using bioabsorbable PushLock anchors with suture fibers to stretch disconnected AF tissues to the vertebral cortex. METHODS: The viewing and working portals are established to excise herniated disc materials causing radiculopathy. Through the working portal, a suture strand is passed through the intact AF tissue near the lesion and retrieved using the Suture Crossing Device. Then, the knotless suture limbs are secured into the cortical bone socket of the vertebral body with a PushLock anchor. CONCLUSION: The procedure is a simple, safe, and feasible knotless suturing technique for the treatment of LDH with AF-EP junction lesions.

Return-to-play outcomes after full-endoscopic spine surgery under local anesthesia in professional baseball players: Comparison by timing of surgery.

BACKGROUND: Full-endoscopic spine surgery via a transforaminal approach (TF-FESS) is minimally invasive and could help athletes quickly return to play. When treating professional athletes, we have to consider their season schedule. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of Japanese professional baseball players who underwent TF-FESS and examine how the timing of surgery influenced their postoperative course. METHODS: Ten players who underwent TF-FESS (discectomy, foraminoplasty, or thermal annuloplasty according to their diagnosis) under local anesthesia were analyzed. Multilevel surgeries were performed at the same time in patients with lesions at multiple levels. The patients were divided into three groups according to timing of surgery (pre/during/post-season). Time to complete return to play and duration of official game loss were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: All players (100 %) could return to their original level of professional play after FESS surgery. Seven of the 10 patients underwent two-level surgery. The mean time until complete return to play was 4.6 months (range, 2-8 months) and the mean duration of game loss was 1.5 months (range, 0-4 months). The mean duration of game loss was shorter in the post-season group than in the other groups (0.9 vs 2,4 months), and 4 of 6 patients in the post-season group did not miss any games. CONCLUSIONS: TF-FESS is a good technique for achieving a quick return to play in professional baseball players. In particular, surgery performed during the post-season could allow players to return to play after adequate rehabilitation with no game loss.

Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy for high-grade migrated lumbar disc herniation: clinical efficacy and safety assessment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) in the management of high-grade migrated Lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A total of 328 patients who underwent PEID for high-grade migrated LDH between May 2020 and January 2023 in our hospital were selected. Patients were categorized into high-grade migrated group and low-grade migrated group according to preoperative MRI findings. The preoperative and postoperative evaluations of clinical outcomes, such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for lower backs and legs, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria for surgical success, were compared between groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in hospitalization time, surgery time, intraoperative hemorrhage, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, or incision length between the two groups. The lower back and leg VAS scores and ODI exhibited a statistically significant decrease in both groups across all postoperative time intervals. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Postoperative nerve root stimulation symptoms were reported in two and three cases in the high-grade migrated group and low-grade migrated group, respectively. One patient in the high-grade migrated group underwent reoperation due to re-herniation at the same segment. There was no significant difference in the rate of excellent-good cases between the two groups, with an overall rate of 94.7%. CONCLUSION: In treating high-grade migrated disc herniation, PEID offers advantages such as reduced trauma, small incision, quicker recovery and satisfactory clinical safety and efficacy.

Minimizing Tissue Injury and Incisions in Multilevel Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Technical Note and Preliminary Results.

Background and Objectives: Biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) is a promising technique that can be applied for the treatment of various spinal diseases. However, traditional BESS procedures require multiple, separate incisions. We present, herein, various techniques to reduce the number of incisions in multi-level surgery and their clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: Three different techniques were used to reduce the number of incisions for the preservation of normal tissue associated with BESS: the step-ladder technique, employing a common portal for the scope and instruments; the portal change technique employing a two-level procedure with two incisions; and the tilting technique, employing more than three levels. Pain (Visual Analog Scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and patient satisfaction were evaluated before and 12 months after the procedure. Results: Among the 122 cases of multilevel spine surgery, 1.43 incisions per level were employed for multilevel BESS. Pain and disability showed significant improvement. Patient satisfaction showed favorable results. Conclusions: Combining multiple techniques during biportal surgery could decrease the number of incisions needed and preserve musculature with favorable clinical outcomes.

Lumbar endoscopic spine surgery for persistent genital arousal disorder/genitopelvic dysesthesia resulting from lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy.

BACKGROUND: Persistent genital arousal disorder/genitopelvic dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) is characterized by distressing, abnormal genitopelvic sensations, especially unwanted arousal. In a subgroup of patients with PGAD/GPD, cauda equina Tarlov cyst-induced sacral radiculopathy has been reported to trigger the disorder. In our evaluation of lumbosacral magnetic resonance images in patients with PGAD/GPD and suspected sacral radiculopathy, some had no Tarlov cysts but showed lumbosacral disc annular tear pathology. AIM: The aims were 2-fold: (1) to utilize a novel multidisciplinary step-care management algorithm designed to identify a subgroup of patients with PGAD/GPD and lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy who could benefit from lumbar endoscopic spine surgery (LESS) and (2) to evaluate long-term safety and efficacy of LESS. METHODS: Clinical data were collected on patients with PGAD/GPD who underwent LESS between 2016 and 2020 with at least 1-year follow-up. LESS was indicated because all had lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy confirmed by our multidisciplinary management algorithm that included the following: step A, a detailed psychosocial and medical history; step B, noninvasive assessments for sacral radiculopathy; step C, targeted diagnostic transforaminal epidural spinal injections resulting in a temporary, clinically significant reduction of PGAD/GPD symptoms; and step D, surgical intervention with LESS and postoperative follow-up. OUTCOMES: Treatment outcome was based on the validated Patient Global Impression of Improvement, measured at postoperative intervals. RESULTS: Our cohort included 15 cisgendered women and 5 cisgendered men (mean ± SD age, 40.3 ± 16.8 years) with PGAD/GPD who fulfilled the criteria of lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy based on our multidisciplinary management algorithm. Patients were followed for an average of 20 months (range, 12-37) post-LESS. Lumbosacral annular tear pathology was identified at multiple levels, the most common being L4-L5 and L5-S1. Twenty-two LESS procedures were performed in 20 patients. Overall, 80% (16/20) reported improvement on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement; 65% (13/20) reported improvement as much better or very much better. All patients were discharged the same day. There were no surgical complications. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Among the many recognized triggers for PGAD/GPD, this subgroup exhibited lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy and experienced long-term alleviation of symptoms by LESS. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths include long-term post-surgical follow-up and demonstration that LESS effectively treats patients with PGAD/GPD who have lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy, as established by a multidisciplinary step-care management algorithm. Limitations include the small study cohort and the unavailability of a clinical measure specific for PGAD/GPD. CONCLUSION: LESS is safe and effective in treating patients with PGAD/GPD who are diagnosed with lumbosacral annular tear-induced sacral radiculopathy.

Clinical outcomes and complications after biportal endoscopic spine surgery: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 3673 cases.

PURPOSE: Current literature suggests that biportal spinal endoscopy is safe and effective in treating lumbar spine pathology such as lumbar disc herniation, lumbar stenosis, and degenerative spondylolisthesis. No prior study has investigated the postoperative outcomes or complication profile of the technique as a whole. This study serves as the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of biportal spinal endoscopy in the lumbar spine. METHODS: A PubMed literature search provided over 100 studies. 42 papers were reviewed and 3673 cases were identified with average follow-up time of 12.5 months. Preoperative diagnoses consisted of acute disc herniation (1098), lumbar stenosis (2432), and degenerative spondylolisthesis (229). Demographics, operative details, complications, and perioperative outcome and satisfaction scores were analyzed. RESULTS: Average age was 61.32 years, 48% male. 2402 decompressions, 1056 discectomies, and 261 transforaminal lumbar Interbody fusions (TLIFs) were performed. Surgery was performed on 4376 lumbar levels, with L4-5 being most common(61.3%). 290 total complications occurred, 2.23% durotomies, 1.29% inadequate decompressions, 3.79% epidural hematomas, and < 1% transient nerve root injuries, infections, and iatrogenic instability. Significant improvement in VAS-Back, VAS-Leg, ODI, and Macnab Scores were seen across the cohort. CONCLUSION: Biportal spinal endoscopy is a novel method to address pathology in the lumbar spine with direct visualization through an endoscopic approach. Complications are comparable to previously published rates. Clinical outcomes demonstrate effectiveness. Prospective studies are required to assess the efficacy of the technique as compared to traditional techniques. This study demonstrates that the technique can be successful in the lumbar spine.

Validation of smartphone app-based digital patient reported outcomes in full-endoscopic spine surgery.

PURPOSE: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are important tools to assess patient function, pain, disability, and quality of life. We aim to study the efficiency and validity of digital PROMs collection using a smartphone app compared to traditional paper PROMs. METHODS: Patients undergoing evaluation for full-endoscopic spine surgery were recruited from the outpatient clinic at Harborview Medical Center. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and EQ5-5D PROMs were administered on paper and through a smartphone app called SpineHealthie. Compliance rates were collected, and PROM results were assessed for correlation between paper and digital methods. RESULTS: 123 patients were enrolled. 57.7% of patients completed paper PROMs, 82.9% completed digital PROMs, and 48.8% completed both. Of the patients that completed both, Spearman's correlation was greatest for VAS leg, ODI, and EQ5 index scores. Correlation was weaker for VAS back pain, neck pain, and upper extremity pain. Patients tended to report lower disability and higher quality of life on the digital PROM compared to the paper PROM. CONCLUSION: The SpineHealthie app effectively and accurately collects PROMs digitally, showing strong concordance with traditional paper PROMs. We conclude that digital PROMs constitute a promising strategy for monitoring patients after spine surgery over time.

Minimally invasive endoscopy in spine surgery: where are we now?

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that offers comparable efficacy and safety with less collateral damage compared to conventional surgery. To achieve clinical success, it is imperative to stay abreast of technological advancements, modern surgical instruments and technique, and updated evidence. PURPOSES: To provide a comprehensive review and updates of ESS including the nomenclature, technical evolution, bibliometric analysis of evidence, recent changes in the spine communities, the prevailing of biportal endoscopy, and the future of endoscopic spine surgery. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on ESS for the mentioned topics from January 1989 to November 2022. Three major electronic databases were searched, including MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase. Covidence Systematic Review was used to organize the eligible records. Two independent reviewers screened the articles for relevance. RESULTS: In total, 312 articles were finally included for review. We found various use of nomenclatures in the field of ESS publication. To address this issue, we proposed the use of distinct terms to describe the biportal and uniportal techniques, as well as their specific approaches. In the realm of technical advancement, ESS has rapidly evolved from addressing disc herniation and spinal stenosis to encompassing endoscopic fusion, along with technological innovations such as navigation, robotics, and augmented reality. According to bibliometric analysis, China, South Korea, and the USA have accounted for almost three-quarters of total publications. The studies of the biportal endoscopy are becoming increasingly popular in South Korea where the top ten most-cited articles have been published. The biportal endoscopy technique is relatively simple to adopt, as it relies on a more familiar approach, requires less expensive instruments, has a shorter learning curve, and is also well-suited for interbody fusion. The uniportal approach provided the smallest area of soft tissue dissection. While robotics and augmented reality in ESS are not widely embraced, the use of navigation in ESS is expected to become more streamlined, particularly with the emergence of recent electromagnetic-based navigation technologies. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution of ESS, as well as an updated summary of current trends in the field, including the biportal and uniportal approaches. Additionally, we summarize the nomenclature used in ESS, present a bibliometric analysis of the field, and discuss future directions for the advancement of the field.

Treatment of a symptomatic cervical cerebrospinal fluid fistula after full endoscopic cervical foraminotomy with CT-guided epidural fibrin patch.

BACKGROUND: There is only limited data on the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas after cervical endoscopic spine surgery. We investigated the current literature for treatment options and present a case of a patient who was treated with CT-guided epidural fibrin patch. METHODS: We present the case of a 47-year-old female patient with a suspected CSF fistula after endoscopic decompression for C7 foraminal stenosis. She was readmitted 8 days after surgery with dysesthesia in both upper extremities, orthostatic headache and neck pain, which worsened during mobilization. A CSF leak was suspected on spinal magnetic resonance imaging. A computer tomography (CT)-guided epidural blood patch was performed with short-term relief. A second CT-guided epidural fibrin patch was executed and the patient improved thereafter and was discharged at home without sensorimotor deficits or sequelae. We investigated the current literature for complications after endoscopic spine surgery and for treatment of postoperative CSF fistulas. RESULTS: Although endoscopic and open revision surgery with dura repair were described in previous studies, dural tears in endoscopic surgery are frequently treated conservatively. In our case, the patient was severely impaired by a persistent CSF fistula. We opted for a less invasive treatment and performed a CT-guided fibrin patch which resulted in a complete resolution of patient's symptoms. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: CSF fistulas after cervical endoscopic spine procedures are rare complications. Conservative treatment or revision surgery are the standard of care. CT-guided epidural fibrin patch was an efficient and less invasive option in our case.

2nd and 3rd generation full endoscopic lumbar spine surgery: clinical safety and learning curve.

AIM: 2nd and 3rd generation endoscopic spine surgery techniques offer visualisation of familiar inter-laminar anatomy to spinal surgeons. We have prospectively evaluated the clinical outcome, complications and learning curve associated with these techniques in patients with lumbar spine radiculopathy. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 50 consecutive patients with radicular pain from disc herniation and/or lateral recess stenosis. In 6 patients, endoscopy couldn't be done. Operating times, PROM's (VAS, ODI and EQ-5D scores) and complication rates of 44 patients were evaluated after mean FU of 52 months (range 39-65). MRI was used to divide these into protrusions (n = 19), extrusions (n = 17) and lateral recess stenosis (n = 8). Evidence about the learning curve was gathered by curvilinear regression analyses. RESULTS: Using a composite clinical success criterion, 95% patients had a successful outcome, with no major complications. ODI, VAS and EQ-5D scores had a statistically significant improvement and achieved MCID. Revision discectomy rate was only 4.5% (n = 2). MRI based grouping, case sequence and degree of difficulty influenced the duration of surgery and a learning curve was found for protrusions and lateral recess decompressions, but not for extrusions. A learning curve effect was also observed with respect to the ODI. CONCLUSIONS: Although anatomy visualised in 2nd and 3rd generation endoscopy is familiar to spinal surgeons, our learning curve experience suggests a careful and MRI pathology based take up of this technique in clinical practice, despite its clinical safety in our series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, prospective cohort study.

Surgeon reported practice patterns related to full endoscopic cervical decompression procedures.

BACKGROUND: The microsurgical anterior approach to the cervical spine is commonplace. Fewer surgeons perform posterior cervical microsurgical procedures on a routine basis for lack of indication, more bleeding, persistent postoperative neck pain, and risk of progressive misalignment. In comparison, the endoscopic technique is preferentially performed through the posterior approach. Many spine surgeons and even surgeons versed in lumbar endoscopy are often reluctant to consider endoscopic procedures in the cervical spine. We report the results of a surgeon survey to find out why. METHODS: A questionnaire of 10 questions was sent to spine surgeons by email and chat groups in social media networks including Facebook, WeChat, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn to collect practice pattern data about microscopic and endoscopic spine surgery in the lumbar and cervical spine. The responses were cross-tabulated by surgeons' demographic data. Pearson Chi-Square measures, Kappa statistics, and linear regression analysis of agreement or disagreement were performed by analyzing the distribution of variances using the statistical package SPSS Version 27.0. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 39.7%, with 50 of the 126 surgeons who started the survey submitting a completed questionnaire. Of the 50 surgeons, 56.2% were orthopedic, and 42% neurological surgeons. Most surgeons worked in private practice (42%). Another 26% were university-employed, 18% were in private practice affiliated with a university, and the remaining 14% were hospital employed. The majority of surgeons (55.1%) were autodidacts. The largest responding surgeon groups were between 35-44 years (38%) and between 45-54 years of age (34%). Half of the responding surgeons were routinely performing endoscopic cervical spine surgery. The other half did not perform it for the main hurdle of fear of complications (50%). Lack of appropriate mentorship was listed as second most reason (25.4%). More concerns for not performing cervical endoscopic approaches were the perception of lack of technology (20.8%) and suitable surgical indication (12.5%). Only 4.2% considered cervical endoscopy too risky. Nearly a third (30.6%) of the spine surgeons treated over 80% of their cervical spine patients with endoscopic surgeries. Most commonly performed were posterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD; 52%), posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PECF; 48%), anterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (AECD; 32%), cervical endoscopic unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (CE-ULBD; 30%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Cervical endoscopic spine surgery is gaining traction among spine surgeons. However, by far most surgeons performing cervical endoscopic spine surgery work in private practice and are autodidacts. This lack of a teacher to shorten the learning curve as well as fear of complications are two of the major impediments to the successful implementation of cervical endoscopic procedures.

Full-endoscopic technique mitigates obesity-related perioperative morbidity of minimally invasive lumbar decompression.

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with increased surgical complexity and postoperative complications in spine surgery. Minimally invasive procedures have been shown to lessen some of the increased risk in obese patients. This study investigated whether utilization of a working channel endoscope can further mitigate obesity-associated challenges in spinal surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of a single-surgeon database was conducted for all adult patients undergoing full-endoscopic unilateral laminotomies for bilateral decompression between November 2015 and March 2021. Data collected included body mass index, in operating room preparation time, procedure time, length of hospital stay, use of analgesics, complications, and quality of life measured by Oswestry Disability Index. RESULTS: Our cohort included 174 patients. Of these, 74 (42.5%) were obese. The average age was 63.6 years. In-operating room preparation time was 70.0 ± 1.7 min for obese patients and 64.4 ± 1.5 min for non-obese patients (p = 0.02). There was no difference in operative time, durotomy rates or other perioperative complications between obese and non-obese patients. Hospital length of stay trended toward longer in the obese group, but did not reach significance. A greater percentage of obese patients were still using both narcotic and non-narcotic pain medications 2 weeks after surgery. There was no significant difference in functional outcomes between groups. CONCLUSION: Full-endoscopic unilateral laminotomies for bilateral decompression are safe and effective in both non-obese and obese patients. The use of an endoscope can partially mitigate obesity-related morbidity in lumbar decompression. However, obesity is significantly related to increased postoperative analgesic use.