This systematic review and meta-analysis looked at data from 1,395 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis across ten different studies. The researchers compared unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression against tubular or uniportal endoscopic decompression to see how the procedures differed in safety and recovery.
The results suggested that the unilateral biportal endoscopic approach was associated with fewer overall complications and fewer dural tears or cerebrospinal fluid leaks compared to the control group. Patients in the new technique group also showed modestly lower scores for pain and disability at the final follow-up, alongside favorable changes in dural sac measurements.
Despite these positive findings, the study authors note that the magnitude of benefit varied across different outcomes. Because the clinical relevance of some statistically significant differences remains uncertain, this evidence is not yet enough to change standard practice. Further high-quality comparative studies are required to confirm these results before they can be widely adopted.
