Cervical Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression (CE-ULBD) – A Technical Perspective

Cervical endoscopic unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (CEULBD) is an applicable surgical method in cases of central canal stenosis, usually associated with myelopathy. Other authors have shown the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this method. They could also demonstrate more favorable perioperative benchmark data of this procedure than anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in terms of duration of surgery, blood loss, and hospital stay. In this chapter, the authors focus on the technological advances making this surgery possible. Moreover, the authors review the relevant surgical anatomy to enable the aspiring endoscopic spine surgeon to safely and successfully perform the CE-ULBD procedure. Experience in advanced endoscopic surgery in other areas of the spine is recommended before imparting on the posterior endoscopic decompression of the stenotic central cervical spinal canal. The authors have implemented CE-ULBD in formalized and wellstructured Endoscopic Spine Academy (Espinea®) training programs, intending to provide high educational standards to achieve favorable outcomes with the CE-ULBD procedure reproducibly.

Keywords: Cervical myelopathy, Cervical spinal canal stenosis, CE-ULBD, Laminotomy, Posterior cervical endoscopic decompression, Spinal cord compression.