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Case Report: Unilateral biportal endoscopic removal of migrated posterior lumbar interbody cages: a technical note

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: Revision surgery for the removal of a migrated interbody fusion cage is challenging due to scar tissue formation in the surgical area. This study introduces a unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique for the removal of a migrated fusion cage and reports the patient's clinical outcomes. Methods: A unilateral lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) was performed via a trans-facet approach to extract the posterior lumbar interbody cage, thereby bypassing scar tissue from prior surgeries. Results: The patient's clinical symptoms improved significantly postoperatively, with no complications such as nerve injury or cerebrospinal fluid leakage. At the six-month postoperative follow-up, the patient's lumbar and leg VAS scores showed significant improvement, with no obvious signs of cage loosening observed. Conclusion: UBE revision surgery may represent a safe and effective alternative for the removal of migrated posterior lumbar interbody cages.

Source: Frontiers in Surgery

DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2026.1720261