Endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral discectomy using biportal endoscopic approach: Technical report and preliminary clinical results.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral or huge disc herniations cause bilateral radiculopathy and severe lower back pain. In such cases, a bilateral discectomy may be required to resolve the radicular pain in both legs. We attempted a surgical technique involving bilateral lumbar discectomy via a unilateral approach using a percutaneous biportal endoscopic technique. The purpose of the present study was to describe our surgical technique and investigate the clinical outcomes in symptomatic bilateral lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Eleven patients with bilateral disc herniation of the L4-L5 or L5-S1 segments were surgically treated using the percutaneous biportal endoscopic approach. Biportal endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral discectomy was performed in all patients. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was performed 1 day after surgery, and the clinical parameters were investigated preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: All enrolled patients were successfully treated by biportal endoscopic bilateral discectomy via a unilateral approach. Surgery was performed at the L4-L5 level in 1 patient and the L5-S1 level in 10 patients. The mean operative time was 67.5 +/- 13.1 minutes. A visual analog scale of leg pain and the Oswestry disability index showed significant improvement after surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral discectomy using the percutaneous biportal endoscopic approach could be an effective and alternative treatment of symptomatic bilateral herniated disc disease affecting L4-L5 or L5-S1 segments.