BACKGROUND: Extramedullary spinal tumor represents a challenge for every spine surgeon. Today there are so many techniques for performing this surgery with safety and better outcomes for the patients. When we talk about spinal tumor resection surgery, most of the knowledge speaks about open surgery and in the last two decades, the MISS technique has gained importance because of the benefits and better outcomes obtained in terms of recovery of patients. Specifically in the case of UBE. There is so little written on this technique, and we think it will become the gold standard for spinal tumor resection surgery.
METHODS: we use the UBE technique for resection of 11thoracolumbar extramedullary tumors. We retrospective review 11 cases from clinical files and endoscopy transporter videos and describe our surgical technique step by step for a better understanding of UBE surgery. We also analyze all the advantages of this type of surgery in terms of resection, surgery time, bleeding and hospital stay. We also review a case example in a videotape.
RESULTS: In all cases, we achieve a clinical resolution, patient improvement in symptoms and functional and pain scales. In terms of lesion resection, we have similar results as other MISS techniques and open surgery with a low percentage of complications.
CONCLUSIONS: The scope of UBE hasn’t been reached yet. We can say that in this case, series UBE is safe for spinal tumor resection with better outcomes than other MISS techniques, and we will be pushing the frontier in unilateral biportal endoscopy spine surgery.