Biportal endoscopic unilateral laminotomy with bilateral decompression for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND

The advantages of biportal endoscopic approaches over conventional open surgery include the preservation of the normal structures, less intraoperative bleeding, fast postoperative recovery, and preservation of the motion segments.

METHOD

We attempted the posterior biportal endoscopic approach for cervical stenosis at the C5-C6-C7 levels. Biportal endoscopic right ipsilateral hemilaminectomy with bilateral decompression at the C5-C6-C7 levels and right foraminotomy at the C6-C7 level were performed under general anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully performed neural decompression at the C5-C6-C7 levels using biportal endoscopic surgery. The biportal endoscopic posterior cervical approach may be an alternative surgical method for treating cervical myelopathy.