AUTHOR=Zeng Wei , Jiang Haixiao , He Shiwei , Zhang Yukun , Yu Bo , Wang Hui , Wang Cunzu 

TITLE=Comparison of Neuroendoscopic and Microscopic Surgery for Unilateral Hemilaminectomy: Experience of a Single Institution

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.823770

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.823770

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=Abstract: Objective: This study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of unilateral hemilaminectomy conducted under complete neuroendoscopic visualization (UHNV) relative to unilateral hemilaminectomy under total microscopic visualization (UHMV) for the treatment of patients diagnosed with intraspinal tumors. Methods: In total, 41 patients undergoing intraspinal tumor resection at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital were included in this study, including 20 and 21 in the UHNV and UHMV groups, respectively. Intraoperative parameters including incision length, operative duration, the number of vertebral laminae removed, intraoperative blood loss, indicators of curative efficacy including rates of total tumor resection and postoperative symptom improvement rates, and safety indicators including complication rates, recurrence rates, spinal deformity rates, spinal instability incidence, and sickbed time were compared between two groups. Results Relative to the UHMV group, patients in the UHNV group exhibited a significantly shorter incision length and decreased intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.05) without any significant difference in operative duration (P > 0.05). While trends towards better postoperative improvements and total tumor resection rates were observed, these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Complication rates and average sickbed time were significantly reduced in UHNV group (P < 0.05), while recurrence rates, spinal instability, and spinal deformity incidence were comparable in both groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion These results suggest that the UHNV procedure is not inferior to the UHMV procedure. Moreover, UHNV represents a promising alternative to UHMV as a treatment for intraspinal tumor patients owing to its safe and minimally invasive nature.