Abstract: Objective To investigate the safety and effectiveness of the unilateral biportal endoscopy with unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) technique to treat patients with single-segment lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods 35 Patients with single-segment spinal stenosis treated by the ULBD method in the Department of Spine Surgery,Gaozhou People’s Hospital from July 2020 to May 2021 were selected in this study.The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) score of low back pain and leg pain were compared between pre-operation and postoperative follow-up at 1 week,3,12 and 20 months.Besides,intraoperative and postoperative complications were statistically analyzed.Results A complete follow-up of 35 cases was obtained with over 20 months.A mild cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred 3 days after surgery in one case whose wound healed after taking enough rest and receiving nutrition.The VAS score for low back pain decreased from 4.51±1.09 before surgery to 1.91±0.47 after the surgery,the VAS score for leg pain reduced from 5.71±1.15 before the surgery to 2.54±0.56 after the surgery,and the ODI index dropped from 0.50±0.09 to 0.22±0.04,with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with single-segment lumbar spinal stenosis can be treated with the unilateral biportal endoscopy-guided ULBD technique which is characterized by less invasiveness,clear visual fields,and the protection of the soft tissues around the spine.

Key words: unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression; single-segment lumbar spinal stenosis; clinical study