Optimizing the mathematical model and technical standards for unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal surgery through machine learning-based video analysis.

Authors

DingZhong Cheng, Hui Wu, ChunBin Zhou, WeiHao Wang, Nan Li, ChenYu Shao, Hu Wang

Published in

European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society. Jul 13, 2026. Epub Jul 13, 2026.

Abstract

To enhance the efficacy of the unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal procedure, the spinal triangle concept is proposed, integrating a digital model to establish standardized reference parameters and technical protocols for biportal positioning and incision delineation.
A retrospective-prospective cohort of 105 patients undergoing UBE for lumbar discectomy and unilateral spinal canal decompression between March 2024 and February 2026 was analyzed. The cohort was stratified into three groups: 35 cases for pilot testing, 35 as controls, and 35 as the experimental group where preoperative incision parameters were calculated using a proprietary algorithmic formula. Surgical procedures were executed and meticulously documented, with subsequent manual data annotation, machine learning-assisted computational analysis, and mathematical modeling to enhance the UBE spinal triangle framework. Surgical outcomes were assessed by attending surgeons via a standardized Likert scale, while patient-reported outcomes (VAS and ODI scores) were systematically recorded at postoperative intervals. Quantitative video-derived metrics underwent rigorous statistical evaluation, including Student's t-tests, multivariate linear regression, logistic regression analysis, and Pearson's chi-square tests.
The optimal surgical angle was determined to be within the range of 30°-50°. A standardized predictive formula for incision positioning and interportal distance was established: [Formula: see text]. The experimental group utilizing this formula demonstrated a significant reduction in operative duration and enhanced surgical ergonomics under comparable BMI conditions, with particularly pronounced benefits observed in patients with BMI > 28 or BMI < 18.5. Personalized incision placement and optimized interportal distance contributed to decreased operative time, minimized intraoperative radiation exposure, and improved procedural fluency and surgeon satisfaction.
In UBE procedures, the existence of an endoscopic triangular working zone was confirmed. The implementation of a standardized predictive formula for incision positioning and interportal distance enhances surgical efficiency and methodological precision.

PMID:
42437795
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Jul 2026.

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