Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Arthroscopic-Assisted Uniportal Spinal Surgery Versus Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Retrospective Study.

This study compared two minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition causing lower back and leg pain due to narrowing of the spinal canal. Researchers examined 68 patients treated between January 2023 and 2024, comparing arthroscopic-assisted uniportal spinal surgery (AUSS) with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression (PELD). The AUSS technique proved faster overall, taking about 46 minutes compared to 55 minutes for PELD, and required significantly less radiation exposure during the procedure. Patients who received AUSS experienced better leg pain relief in the early recovery period (at 3 days and 1 month after surgery) and reported higher satisfaction rates, with 94% rating their outcomes as excellent or good compared to 85% in the PELD group. While AUSS required slightly larger incisions and resulted in more blood loss during surgery, these differences didn't affect hospital stay length or recovery safety. Importantly, no AUSS patients needed repeat surgery within the first year, while one PELD patient required additional intervention. Both techniques were considered safe overall with similar complication rates. For patients considering treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis, this research suggests AUSS may offer faster surgery, less radiation exposure, and better early pain relief, though both approaches can be effective. Note: This study examined surgical interventions, not acupuncture treatments; consult a licensed healthcare provider to discuss appropriate treatment options for spinal stenosis.

This retrospective comparative study (n=68) evaluated AUSS versus PELD for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis treatment over 12-month follow-up. AUSS demonstrated significantly shorter total operative time (45.6±3.14 vs. 54.6±5.54 min, p<0.01) and intracanal decompression time (21.25±2.38 vs. 35.4±3.36 min, p<0.01), with dramatically reduced fluoroscopy exposure (7.45±2.39 vs. 38.38±7.62 seconds, p<0.01). AUSS patients showed superior early postoperative outcomes with lower VAS leg pain scores at 3 days and 1 month (p<0.01) and higher satisfaction rates using modified MacNab criteria (94.29% vs. 84.85% excellent/good outcomes, p<0.05). Despite larger incisions (19.74±2.13 vs. 7.83±1.08mm) and increased blood loss (17.18±6.43 vs. 9.53±1.38mL), AUSS demonstrated no revisions versus one PELD reoperation. Clinical takeaway: AUSS offers improved operative efficiency and early clinical outcomes with comparable safety profiles, particularly advantageous for comprehensive neural decompression cases. Note: This study does not address acupuncture interventions.