Research Article

Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study

Volume: 9 Number: 3 December 31, 2025
TR EN

Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study

Abstract

Aim: Far-lateral lumbar disc herniations (FLLDH) account for approximately 7–12% of all lumbar disc herniations and require specific surgical approaches due to their anatomical location. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy (UBE) and microscopic discectomy in the treatment of FLLDH. Material and Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted on 20 patients who underwent surgery for FLLDH between January 2023 and January 2025. Patients were divided into two groups: 10 treated with UBE and 10 with microscopic discectomy. Demographic data, operative time, pre- and postoperative back and leg Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, length of hospital stay, functional outcomes (modified McNab criteria), and complications were analyzed. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signedrank tests were used for within-group before–after comparisons, and independent t-tests or chi-square tests were used for between-group comparisons. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age and sex distribution were similar between the groups. Postoperative back pain VAS scores were significantly lower in the UBE group (2.2±0.9 vs. 4.1±1.7, p=0.005). ODI scores improved significantly in both groups without a significant intergroup difference. Postoperative Hb levels were significantly higher in the UBE group (12.8±0.7 g/dL vs. 12.1±0.6 g/dL, p=0.011), indicating less blood loss. Hospital stay was shorter in the UBE group (16.8±5.8 h vs. 23.0±4.8 h, p=0.012). Operative time and complication rates were comparable. According to modified McNab criteria, functional outcomes did not differ significantly. Conclusion: UBE provides similar functional outcomes to microscopic discectomy in FLLDH, with advantages of less postoperative pain, reduced blood loss, and shorter hospitalization. UBE is a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative; however, larger prospective studies are required to confirm long-term outcomes.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Brain and Nerve Surgery (Neurosurgery)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 3

APA
Özer, M. İ., Demirtaş, O. K., Çulcu, Z., Sözer, A., & Solmaz, İ. (2025). Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study. Medical Journal of Western Black Sea, 9(3), 354-360. https://doi.org/10.29058/mjwbs.1781834
AMA
1.Özer Mİ, Demirtaş OK, Çulcu Z, Sözer A, Solmaz İ. Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study. Med J West Black Sea. 2025;9(3):354-360. doi:10.29058/mjwbs.1781834
Chicago
Özer, Mehmet İlker, Oğuz Kağan Demirtaş, Zeliha Çulcu, Alperen Sözer, and İlker Solmaz. 2025. “Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy versus Microscopic Discectomy for Far-Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniations: A Retrospective Comparative Study”. Medical Journal of Western Black Sea 9 (3): 354-60. https://doi.org/10.29058/mjwbs.1781834.
EndNote
Özer Mİ, Demirtaş OK, Çulcu Z, Sözer A, Solmaz İ (December 1, 2025) Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study. Medical Journal of Western Black Sea 9 3 354–360.
IEEE
[1]M. İ. Özer, O. K. Demirtaş, Z. Çulcu, A. Sözer, and İ. Solmaz, “Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study”, Med J West Black Sea, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 354–360, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.29058/mjwbs.1781834.
ISNAD
Özer, Mehmet İlker - Demirtaş, Oğuz Kağan - Çulcu, Zeliha - Sözer, Alperen - Solmaz, İlker. “Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy versus Microscopic Discectomy for Far-Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniations: A Retrospective Comparative Study”. Medical Journal of Western Black Sea 9/3 (December 1, 2025): 354-360. https://doi.org/10.29058/mjwbs.1781834.
JAMA
1.Özer Mİ, Demirtaş OK, Çulcu Z, Sözer A, Solmaz İ. Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study. Med J West Black Sea. 2025;9:354–360.
MLA
Özer, Mehmet İlker, et al. “Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy versus Microscopic Discectomy for Far-Lateral Lumbar Disc Herniations: A Retrospective Comparative Study”. Medical Journal of Western Black Sea, vol. 9, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 354-60, doi:10.29058/mjwbs.1781834.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet İlker Özer, Oğuz Kağan Demirtaş, Zeliha Çulcu, Alperen Sözer, İlker Solmaz. Unilateral biportal endoscopy versus microscopic discectomy for far-lateral lumbar disc herniations: A retrospective comparative study. Med J West Black Sea. 2025 Dec. 1;9(3):354-60. doi:10.29058/mjwbs.1781834

The Western Black Sea Medical Journal is an international, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal published by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University. First launched in 2017, the journal is published three times a year (in April, August, and December) and accepts articles in both Turkish and English.