The paper aimed to compare the outcomes of minimally invasive (MI) bilateral laminotomy via unilateral approach versus open laminectomy in lumbar spinal stenosis treatment (LSS). The researchers took data of 62 patients who underwent treatment for LSS and were assigned to two groups over six months. Group A comprised 37 patients that underwent MI bilateral laminotomy. Group B included 25 patients that underwent open laminectomy. The follow-up duration was three years. The primary outcomes were the visual analog scale (VAS) pain outcome score for the back and leg, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and complications.
The study showed that VAS back pain outcome was reduced from close to 7 to 4 in both groups. VAS leg pain was reduced from 6.8 to 3.2 in the MI group and from 8.7 to 3.5 in the open group (p > 0.05 between groups, p < 0.05 comparing pre- to post-operative back and leg pain). ODI improved from 56.5 to 13 and 58 to 24 in MI and open groups, respectively. Therefore, the conclusion Bilateral laminotomy through a unilateral approach (minimally invasive) and open laminectomy effectively improves pain and disability in LSS.
Ref: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02688697.2020.1777253
