Biportal endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Abstract

Background: The advantages of biportal endoscopic approaches over conventional open surgery include the preservation of the normal structures, less intraoperative bleeding, fast postoperative recovery, and preservation of the motion segments.

Method: We attempted the posterior biportal endoscopic approach for cervical stenosis at the C5-C6-C7 levels. Biportal endoscopic right ipsilateral hemilaminectomy with bilateral decompression at the C5-C6-C7 levels and right foraminotomy at the C6-C7 level were performed under general anesthesia.

Conclusions: We successfully performed neural decompression at the C5-C6-C7 levels using biportal endoscopic surgery. The biportal endoscopic posterior cervical approach may be an alternative surgical method for treating cervical myelopathy.

Keywords: Biportal; Cervical; Endoscopy; Laminectomy; Myelopathy; Stenosis.