Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique in treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH).Methods Clinical data of 28 ULDH patients treated with UBE from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation time under endoscopy, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay and complications were recorded and analyzed. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the modified MacNab score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) of low back pain and lower limb pain at pre-operation, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation and the last follow-up.Results All the patients completed the endoscopic operation successfully. Operation time under endoscopy of non fusion were (47.50 ± 11.84) min in monosegment and (75.00 ± 20.66) min in two segments, while fusion was (77.50 ± 21.02) min. Postoperative drainage of non fusion were (25.00 ± 13.94) mL in monosegment and (38.00 ± 11.83) mL in two segments, while there was (71.25 ± 31.72) mL in fusion cases, respectively. Postoperative hospital stay was (8.28 ± 4.22) d, the follow-up time was (15.82 ± 4.54) months. There was statistical significance in ODI and VAS before and after operation (P < 0.05). According to the modified MacNab scoring standard, the ratio of excellent and good was 96.43% at the last follow-up. There were 2 cases with transient numbness and pain of lower limbs and no activity disorder after operation, and they all recovered after conservative treatment.Conclusion The clinical effect of UBE technique in the treatment of ULDH is reliable. According to the needs of the disease, the interlaminar approach or paravertebral approach of UBE technique can be selected. It takes into account the effect of treating diseases, achieves the purpose of minimally invasive, and does not need to prepare special instruments. It is worthy of clinical application.