CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF UNIPORTAL INTERLAMINAR ENDOSCOPIC POSTERIOR CERVICAL DECOMPRESSION FOR CERVICAL SPINAL CANAL STENOSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 45 PATIENTS WITH 12-MONTH FOLLOW-UP

Background. Cervical spinal canal stenosis is a frequent degenerative disease of the cervical spine, which can cause compression of the cervical nerve roots and spinal cord. Degenerative disc changes, osteophyte formation, facet joint hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum thickening are considered to be the main pathological mechanisms responsible for progressive narrowing of neural structures. Neural decompression can be achieved effectively with traditional decompressive techniques, but extensive tissue dissection may lead to postoperative axial neck pain, muscle injury, and a long rehabilitation course. Endoscopic spine surgery has brought minimally invasive techniques for adequate decompression with the preservation of posterior anatomical structures.                       

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of uniportal interlaminar endoscopic posterior cervical decompression in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis after 12 months of follow-up.       Materials and Methods. The retrospective study was organized at the Republican Specialized Scientific Re­search Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Forty-five patients with symptomatic cervical spinal canal stenosis who underwent posterior cervical uniportal interlaminar endoscopic decompression from 2020 to 2025. The study comprised of 29 male patients (65%) and 16 female patients (35%). Cervical myelopathy was present in 18 (40%) patients. Preoperative imaging evaluation included K-line assessment and MRI. All patients were K-line (+) and considered good candidates for posterior endoscopic decompression. Thirty-six patients under­went single-level decompression and nine patients underwent two-level decompression. Clinical outcomes were as­sessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All patients completed a 12-month follow-up.       

Results. The mean VAS score was 7.4 ± 1.1 preoperatively. The VAS was reduced to 1.5 ± 0.5 at 12 months after surgery. Mean NDI score was 38.6 ± 6.4 preoperatively and 9.4 ± 3.5 at the final follow-up. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 130 ± 30 ml. Mean hospital stay was 3 days. Follow-up showed one case of recurrent stenosis at the C5-C6 level.         

Conclusion. The uniportal interlaminar endoscopic posterior cervical decompression demonstrated good clinical outcomes in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis. The minimally invasive technique resulted in marked improvement of pain, disability and neurological symptoms with a low complication rate.