Lumbar decompressive laminectomy is a standard treatment
for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, but in some cases,
can lead to iatrogenic spondylolysis and delayed segmental
instability. Iatrogenic spondylolysis occurs in most cases in
pars interarticularis, but rare cases have also been reported,
pediculolysis in pedicle and laminolysis in lamina.
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) is known to have a
low risk of developing these iatrogenic spondylolyses, and
unilateral biportal endoscopy is the MIS that has been
drawing attention. We present a case of a 72-year-old female
who was diagnosed with L4-5 unstable non-isthmic
spondylolisthesis and severe right central disc extrusion 10
weeks after UBE assisted unilateral laminotomy for bilateral
decompression (ULBD) at the consecutive segments of L3-4
and L4-5. Pre-operative imaging studies revealed severe
central stenosis without spondylolisthesis at L3-L4 and L4-
L5 along with L4-L5 facet tropism. She was managed by
anterior lumbar interbody fusion and cement augmented
pedicle screw fixation, which resulted in the complete
resolution of her clinical and neurologic symptoms.