The introduction of endoscopic spine surgery has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal disorders. In particular, biportal endoscopic surgery has gained traction for its wider visual field and improved the maneuverability of instruments, familiar anatomy, and costeffectiveness. In this study, we describe our en bloc removal of the ligamentum flavum using a “butterfly” technique. This approach had several advantages: (1) The flavum serves as a protective barrier for the dura during drilling. (2) There is less epidural bleeding, which provides (3) better visualization. (4) In an inadvertent durotomy, this usually occurs later in the procedure, which is more manageable than the early stages of decompression. Biportal decompression for spinal stenosis can be performed using an en bloc ligamentum flavum removal technique that is safe, reproducible, and efficient. A systematic approach will help early adopters overcome the steep learning curve.

The introduction of endoscopic spine surgery has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal disorders. In particular, biportal endoscopic surgery has gained traction for its wider visual field and improved the maneuverability of instruments, familiar anatomy, and costeffectiveness. In this study, we describe our en bloc removal of the ligamentum flavum using a “butterfly” technique. This approach had several advantages: (1) The flavum serves as a protective barrier for the dura during drilling. (2) There is less epidural bleeding, which provides (3) better visualization. (4) In an inadvertent durotomy, this usually occurs later in the procedure, which is more manageable than the early stages of decompression. Biportal decompression for spinal stenosis can be performed using an en bloc ligamentum flavum removal technique that is safe, reproducible, and efficient. A systematic approach will help early adopters overcome the steep learning curve.

The introduction of endoscopic spine surgery has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal disorders. In particular, biportal endoscopic surgery has gained traction for its wider visual field and improved the maneuverability of instruments, familiar anatomy, and costeffectiveness. In this study, we describe our en bloc removal of the ligamentum flavum using a “butterfly” technique. This approach had several advantages: (1) The flavum serves as a protective barrier for the dura during drilling. (2) There is less epidural bleeding, which provides (3) better visualization. (4) In an inadvertent durotomy, this usually occurs later in the procedure, which is more manageable than the early stages of decompression. Biportal decompression for spinal stenosis can be performed using an en bloc ligamentum flavum removal technique that is safe, reproducible, and efficient. A systematic approach will help early adopters overcome the steep learning curve.

The introduction of endoscopic spine surgery has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of spinal disorders. In particular, biportal endoscopic surgery has gained traction for its wider visual field and improved the maneuverability of instruments, familiar anatomy, and costeffectiveness. In this study, we describe our en bloc removal of the ligamentum flavum using a “butterfly” technique. This approach had several advantages: (1) The flavum serves as a protective barrier for the dura during drilling. (2) There is less epidural bleeding, which provides (3) better visualization. (4) In an inadvertent durotomy, this usually occurs later in the procedure, which is more manageable than the early stages of decompression. Biportal decompression for spinal stenosis can be performed using an en bloc ligamentum flavum removal technique that is safe, reproducible, and efficient. A systematic approach will help early adopters overcome the steep learning curve.

Single-position lateral interbody fusion surgery has gained traction over the years because of reduced surgical time and improved operating theater workflow. With the introduction of robotics in spine surgery, surgeons can place pedicle screws with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency; moreover, the robot allows us to localize the disk space and perform endplate preparation accurately with minimal radiation. In this study, we discuss the potential synergistic benefits of integrating robotic-assisted spine surgery and singleposition prone lateral surgery. We share our technique and provide the operative nuances of using the Mazor X Stealth Edition system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). We highlighted the potential synergistic benefits of integrating both the prone lateral and robotic-assisted surgical techniques, including the challenges encountered. This approach is not meant to replace other techniques or be used in all patients. Instead, it adds to our arsenal for managing spine fusion.

Methods: Retrospectively, patients who underwent TLIF and LLIF for various degenerative conditions were shortlisted. Each of their fused levels with the cage in situ was analyzed independently, and the preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up disc height measurements were compared between the groups. In addition, the total disc height loss since surgery was calculated at final follow-up and was compared between the groups. Results: Forty-six patients (age, 64.1±8.9 years) with 70 cage levels, 35 in each group, were selected. Age, sex, construct length, preoperative disc height, cage height, and immediate postoperative disc height were similar between the groups. By 3 months, disc height of the TLIF group was significantly less and continued to decrease over time, unlike in the LLIF group. By 1 year, the TLIF group demonstrated greater disc height loss (2.30±1.3 mm) than the LLIF group (0.89±1.1 mm). However, none of the patients in either group had any symptomatic complications throughout follow-up. Conclusions Although our study highlights the biomechanical advantage of LLIF over TLIF in maintaining disc height, none of the patients in our cohort had symptomatic complications or implant-related failures. Hence, TLIF, as it incorporates posterior decompression, remains a safe and reliable technique despite the potential for greater disc height loss.

Retrospective review.

Methods: Clinical and neuromonitoring data of 207 consecutive adult patients who underwent cervical spine surgeries at multiple surgical centers using bimodal IONM were analyzed. Signal changes were divided into three groups. Group 0 had transient signal changes in either MEPs or SSEPs, group 1 had sustained unimodal changes, and group 2 had sustained changes in both MEPs and SSEPs. The incidences of true neurological deficits in each group were recorded. Results: A total of 25% (52/207) had IONM signal alerts. Out of these signal drops, 96% (50/52) were considered to be false positives. Groups 0 and 1 had no incidence of neurological deficits, while group 2 had a 29% (2/7) rate of true neurological deficits. The sensitivities of both MEP and SSEP were 100%. SSEP had a specificity of 96.6%, while MEP had a lower specificity at 76.6%. C5 palsy rate was 6%, and there was no correlation with IONM signal alerts (p=0.73). Conclusions This study shows that we can better predict its clinical significance by dividing IONM signal drops into three groups. A sustained, bimodal (MEP and SSEP) signal drop had the highest risk of true neurological deficits and warrants a high level of caution. There were no clear risk factors for false-positive alerts but there was a trend toward patients with cervical myelopathy.

Retrospective review.