Abstract
Uniportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion aims to achieve the bony union of 2 lumbar segments through cage insertion using full spinal endoscopy. Endoscopic fusion can adjust foraminal height and disc height, improve alignment, and minimize collateral soft tissue damage during the insertion of an interbody cage. The surgery is performed under constant irrigation with normal saline and an optical endoscopic lens close to the targeted disc segment. Two main subtypes of uniportal endoscopic fusion are currently described in the literature. We broadly classify them into facet-preserving and facet-sacrificing endoscopic lumbar interbody fusions. We have termed them uniportal facet-preserving trans-Kambin endoscopic fusion and uniportal facet-sacrificing posterolateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. In this article, we review the current literature and discuss the history, indications, contraindications, technical differences, clinical outcomes, and complications of uniportal endoscopic interbody fusion surgery.
- degenerative spinal disease
- endoscopic spine surgery
- endoscopic fusion
- spinal fusion, novel spine techniques
- transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
- spinal endoscopy
Footnotes
Funding The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors report no conflicts of interest associated with this work.
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