An advanced spine surgery technique - Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Surgery (UBE) - performed recently at Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, restored mobility to a 40-year-old IT professional who had been rendered immobile and in severe pain due to cauda equina syndrome, a serious spinal condition in which the bundle of nerves at the lower end of the spinal cord becomes compressed, typically due to a very large disc herniation. The patient was able to walk within a few days of the surgery and subsequently resumed work.
Pioneered in the Delta region by Meenakshi Hospital, UBE is a biportal endoscopic spine surgery technique that facilitates minimally invasive procedures such as discectomy to remove the portion of a bulging or herniated disc compressing a nerve. The procedure involves two small incisions (usually less than 1 cm) and the use of specialised endoscopic instruments to remove the damaged disc material. The technique allows surgeons to access two or more affected discs through the same small portals.
The benefits of the procedure include minimal muscle disruption compared to conventional open microscopic surgery, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and significantly less post-operative pain. The hospital has performed nearly 50 UBE procedures for conditions such as lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and other degenerative spine disorders.
The procedures were carried out by a surgical team led by Dr. Karthikeyan Maharajan, Senior Consultant - Spine Surgery, and included Dr. Ari Manickam, HOD and Anesthetist, along with Dr. Shanmuga Hariharan, Orthopaedic Consultant.
Commenting on the procedure, Dr. Karthikeyan Maharajan said that UBE represents a significant advancement in minimally invasive spinal care for patients in the region. “UBE is an innovative technique that enables complex spinal decompression to be performed through two small keyhole incisions. This approach results in minimal muscle damage, reduced blood loss, faster recovery, and a shorter hospital stay. We are now offering this advanced procedure locally with encouraging clinical outcomes,” he said.
He added that the post-operative recovery profile and functional improvement observed in patients have been highly satisfactory, reinforcing the safety and effectiveness of this modern endoscopic spine surgery technique.
Dr. Karthikeyan further stated that the continued adoption of evidence-based endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques will play a crucial role in enhancing patient outcomes, reducing recovery time, and improving overall quality of life for individuals affected by spinal disorders. The availability of advanced endoscopic spine surgery within the Delta region significantly reduces the need for patients to travel to distant metropolitan centres for specialised spinal treatment, thereby improving access to state-of-the-art spine care.
Dr. V. Praveen, Deputy Medical Superintendent; Dr. Parthiban, HOD and Senior Consultant - Orthopedics; and Dr. Balagurunathan, Orthopaedic Consultant, of Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, were also present at the press meet.