Unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal surgery for the treatment of Bertolotti syndrome in an adolescent, a case report - Takeaways - MDSpire

Endoscopic Unilateral Biportal Spinal Surgery for Adolescent Bertolotti Syndrome: A Case Study

  • By

  • Lingfeng Ren

  • Tianhua Qiao

  • Yan Zhang

  • Yong Wang

  • Xin Zhang

  • July 21, 2026

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  • 1

    Bertolotti syndrome (BS) is linked to lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and causes back pain and radicular symptoms due to nerve root compression.

  • 2

    A 17-year-old girl with BS underwent endoscopic resection of left side L5/S1 pseudoarthrosis using a unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal surgery technique.

  • 3

    Post-surgery, the patient's visual analogue scale scores for back pain improved from 8 to 2, and leg pain scores improved from 8 to 1.

  • 4

    The patient's symptoms of back pain and radiculopathy completely resolved by the 3-month follow-up after the endoscopic surgery.

  • 5

    Endoscopic decompression via the UBE technique is presented as an effective option for adolescents with BS after conservative treatment failure.

Original Source(s)

Unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal surgery for the treatment of Bertolotti syndrome in an adolescent, a case report

  • by Lingfeng Ren, Tianhua Qiao, Yan Zhang, Yong Wang, Xin Zhang

  • July 21, 2026

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