• Javier Quillo-Olvera, Diego Quillo-Olvera, Javier Quillo-Reséndiz, and Michelle Barrera-Arreola.
• The Brain and Spine Care, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Center, Neurosurgery Department, Hospital H+ Queretaro, Queretaro City, Mexico. Electronic address: neuroqomd@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2020 Dec 1; 144: 74-81.

BackgroundLumbar burst fractures (complete or incomplete) of L5 have a low incidence, accounting for 1.2% of all spinal burst fractures. Treatment for these fractures remains controversial. Decompression of neural elements and stabilization of the spine to preserve lordosis and avoid kyphotic deformity are recommended when a patient has a neurological deficit and an unstable fracture. Otherwise, the fracture could be managed conservatively.MethodsWe report a detailed step-by-step unilateral biportal endoscopy technique used in a patient with an L5 incomplete burst fracture and neurological deficit.ResultsThe patient had an acceptable immediate postoperative course; lower back pain and radicular symptoms improved significantly after surgery.ConclusionsOur unilateral biportal endoscopy technique for L5 incomplete burst fractures offers the capability to perform enough decompression of neural elements and assist other procedure-related maneuvers under direct endoscopic visualization. This technique could be considered another minimally invasive spine surgery option for treating selected patients with L5 incomplete burst fractures.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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