• Mingxin Chen, Qingshuai Yu, Si Cheng, Tao Hu, Xin Wang, Bo Lei, Chaofan Qin, Qingyan Long, Zhongliang Deng, and Zhengjian Yan.
• Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 May 1; 185: e1064e1073e1064-e1073.

ObjectiveThe present study outlines the feasibility, safety, and short-term clinical outcomes of posterior lateral endoscopic cervical discectomy (PLECD) through a lateral mass approach for treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).MethodsThis single-center retrospective observational study involved 30 patients with single-level CSR who had failed conservative treatment and presented with clinical symptoms consistent with imaging findings undergoing PLECD via a lateral mass approach. Primary outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain, the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and the modified MacNab criteria. Radiographic follow-up consisted of static and dynamic cervical radiographs and computed tomographic scans.ResultsThirty patients (13 men and 17 women; mean age 48.8 ± 11.9 years) underwent this procedure, and the mean operative time was 74.90 ± 13.52 minutes. Mean follow-up was 7.37 ± 2.17 months. The VAS scores for the neck and arm decreased significantly at the last follow-up (neck, 26.80 ± 4.75 to 9.87 ± 1.78; arm, 71.30 ± 8.48 to 14.73 ± 4.00) (P < 0.05). The JOA score also decreased from 13.47 ± 1.36 to 15.90 ± 0.92 at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Twenty-nine patients demonstrated satisfactory outcomes based on the modified MacNab criteria at the last follow-up. All patients exhibited a positive clinical response, experiencing relief from symptoms. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed the complete removal of lesions.ConclusionsPLECD through a lateral mass approach, as an alternative to conventional "keyhole" approaches, proves to be a novel and viable therapeutic option for CSR, demonstrating both high efficacy and safety.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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