Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41219481›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026

Comparative analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes between ipsilateral and contralateral inclinatory approaches in unilateral biportal endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy.

JinWoo Jung, Sang-Woo Lee, Donghyun Kim, Young San Ko, Dae-Chul Cho, Sang-Kyu Son, Man-Kyu Park

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in 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. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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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

7 authors.

JinWoo JungHu Hospital, Busan, Korea, Republic of.
Sang-Woo LeeHu Hospital, Busan, Korea, Republic of.
Donghyun KimCentral Draft Physical Examination Office of Military Manpower Administration, Daegu, Korea, Republic of.
Young San KoKyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea, Republic of.
Dae-Chul ChoKyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea, Republic of.
Sang-Kyu SonGood Moonhwa Hospital, Busan, Korea, Republic of.
Man-Kyu ParkHu Hospital, Busan, Korea, Republic of. jihak3@hanmail.net.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeUnilateral biportal endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy (UBE-PCF) has emerged as an effective minimally invasive technique for cervical radiculopathy. However, no comparative study has investigated clinical and radiological outcomes between ipsilateral and contralateral inclinatory approaches. This study aimed to analyze and compare outcomes between these two UBE-PCF approaches.

methodsSixty consecutive patients who underwent UBE-PCF for cervical radiculopathy at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed (ipsilateral: 70 levels, contralateral inclinatory: 34 levels). Clinical outcomes included neck and arm visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Radiological outcomes were assessed using X-ray (C2/C7 Cobb angle, segmental angle, disc height), CT (isthmic distance, superior articular process distance, facet length, facet cross-sectional area, surgical foraminal approach angle) and MRI (interforamianl cross-sectional area). Statistical analyses were performed to compare outcomes and assess correlations between surgical foraminal approach angle and radiological parameters.

resultsBoth approaches achieved significant improvement in neck VAS, arm VAS, and NDI postoperatively, with no statistically significant differences between two groups. Radiological parameters improved significantly in both groups, with no cases of postoperative instability. Although the contralateral inclinatory approach demonstrated slightly smaller surgical foraminal approach angle and lower facet joint resection rates, these differences were not statistically significant. Surgical foraminal approach angle was not significantly correlated with facet resection rates.

conclusionBoth ipsilateral and contralateral inclinatory UBE-PCF provide comparable clinical and radiological outcomes. UBE spine surgeons can select either approach based on preference and anatomical considerations, as both approaches effectively decompress cervical nerve root.

Indexed as

Cervical VertebraeEndoscopyForaminotomyRadiculopathyAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCervical radiculopathyEndoscopyMinimally invasive surgical procedures

Identifiers

PMID41219481

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.