Spinal surgery review finds mixed results across endoscopic approaches
Some outcomes favored UBED over PELD for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis, while several pain, recovery and complication outcomes showed no statistically significant difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found some advantages for UBED, including shorter surgery, lower leg pain scores at an early assessment and lower disability scores at final follow-up. Several other outcomes, including back pain and complication rates, did not differ significantly. Without the size of those differences, the abstract cannot show how much they mattered to patients.
The abstract omits effect sizes, confidence intervals and the designs of the included studies. Final follow-up timing is also unclear, and the authors call for further randomized trials.
What researchers found
Pain measured by visual analogue scale
UBED versus PELD at 3 months after surgery; p < 0.05. The size of the difference is not reported.
Anatomy and symptoms
UBED was also associated with a larger postoperative dural sac cross-sectional area, an anatomical measurement. This is a separate endpoint from leg pain or disability and should not stand in for either patient outcome.
Nonsignificant comparisons
The review found no statistically significant differences in blood loss, hospital stay, back pain or complication rates. These findings do not establish that the procedures have identical results or equivalent risks.
The original publication
Comparison of unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression for single-level degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhang Y, Ju J, Wu J
J Orthop Surg Res · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41189000
- Record checked
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