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Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy for Decompression of Foraminal (Extraforaminal) Stenosis Through the Contralateral Sublaminar Approach

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Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery
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Abstract

The exiting nerve roots (ENR) at the lumbar spinal levels pass through the neuroforamen below the pedicle and the superior articular process (SAP) and then curve downward in the far-out area. Any nerve compressing lesions from the medial foraminal area to the far-out area can cause the symptoms of radiculopathy. Spinal endoscopic decompression of lumbar foraminal stenosis and combined lateral recess or extraforaminal stenosis have been tried via contralateral sublaminar approach. Biportal endoscopic surgery accessed the foraminal area efficiently and achieved favorable outcomes with a contralateral sublaminar approach to treat lateral recess and foraminal stenotic pathologies. With the development of instruments and techniques, the biportal endoscopic system can access the extraforaminal area through the contralateral sublaminar approach overcoming the crowing of the endoscopy with instruments in the narrowed foraminal space. We can treat the coexisting stenosis in the lateral recess and foraminal and extraforaminal areas through the contralateral sublaminar approach using biportal endoscopy.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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This study did not receive grants or other financial and material support.

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1 Electronic Supplementary Material

Left biportal endoscopic contralateral sublaminar approach for lateral recess, foraminal, and extraforaminal decompression at the L4-5 level. The surgical step of foraminal opening (MP4 94780 kb).

Left biportal endoscopic contralateral sublaminar approach for lateral recess, foraminal, and extraforaminal decompression at the L4-5 level. The surgical step of foraminal and extraforaminal decompression (MP4 112264 kb).

Right biportal endoscopic contralateral sublaminar approach for lateral recess, foraminal, and extraforaminal decompression at the L5-S1 level (MP4 107495 kb).

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Kim, J.Y., Heo, D.H., Hong, H.J., Park, C.W. (2022). Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy for Decompression of Foraminal (Extraforaminal) Stenosis Through the Contralateral Sublaminar Approach. In: Heo, D.H., Park, C.W., Son, S.K., Eum, J.H. (eds) Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8201-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8201-8_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-8200-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-8201-8

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