Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39054483›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression versus anterior cervical decompression and fusion for unilateral cervical radiculopathy or coexisting cervical myelopathy: a prospective, randomized, controlled, noninferiority trial.

Wei Peng, Rupeng Chu, Wei Cui, Yin Zhuang, Wenjin Chen, Xiaofei Han, Zhenzhong Sun, Shujun Zhang

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative StudyEquivalence Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Unilateral biportal endoscopic in spine surgery: a global bibliometric analysis of research trends and influences.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  6. Review
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  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. [Early effectiveness and safety of mini open endoscopy assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026
    Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. [Research progress of unilateral biportal endoscopy technology in cervical degenerative disease].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025
    Review
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wei PengDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Rupeng ChuDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Wei CuiDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Yin ZhuangDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Wenjin ChenDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Xiaofei HanDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Zhenzhong SunDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
Shujun ZhangDepartment of Spine Surgery, Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, No. 999 Liangqing Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. spine_zhang@vip.163.com.

Funding

Wuxi Municipal Bureau on Science and Technology K20221063Wuxi Municipal Bureau on Science and Technology Y20222029Wuxi Municipal Health Commission M202002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCervical spondylosis (CS), including myelopathy and radiculopathy, is the most common degenerative cervical spine disease. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) compared to those of conventional anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) for treating unilateral cervical radiculopathy or coexisting cervical myelopathy induced by unilateral cervical herniated discs.

methodsA prospective, randomized, controlled, noninferiority trial was conducted. The sample consisted of 131 patients who underwent UBE or ACDF was conducted between September 2021 and September 2022. Patients with cervical nerve roots or coexisting spinal cord compression symptoms and imaging-defined unilateral cervical radiculopathy or coexisting cervical myelopathy induced by unilateral cervical herniated discs were randomized into two groups: a UBE group (n = 63) and an ACDF group (n = 68). The operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay after surgery, and perioperative complications were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, neck disability index (NDI) scores, and recovery rate (RR) of the mJOA were utilized to evaluate clinical outcomes.

resultsThe hospital stay after surgery was significantly shorter in patients treated with UBE than in those treated with ACDF (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the neck or arm VAS score, NDI score, mJOA score, or mean RR of the mJOA between the two groups (p < 0.05). Only mild complications were observed in both groups, with no significant difference (p = 0.30).

conclusionUBE can significantly relieve pain and disability without severe complications, and most patients are satisfied with this technique. Consequently, this procedure can be used safely and effectively as an alternative to ACDF for treating unilateral cervical radiculopathy or coexisting cervical myelopathy induced by unilateral cervical herniated discs.

trial registrationThis study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 02/08/2023 ( http://www.chictr.org.cn , #ChiCTR2300074273).

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeDecompression, SurgicalEndoscopyRadiculopathySpinal Cord DiseasesSpinal FusionAdultAgedFemaleHumansIntervertebral Disc DisplacementMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSpondylosisTreatment OutcomeAnterior cervical decompression and fusionCervical myelopathyCervical radiculopathyDiscectomySpine surgeryUnilateral biportal endoscopy

Identifiers

PMID39054483
PMCPMC11270769

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.