Objective To investigate the safeness and effectiveness of extreme transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (ExTLIF) assisted by unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) for the treatment of patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Methods The clinical data of 7 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation undergoing ExTLIF assisted by UBE were retrospectively analyzed. The states of surgical procedure and postoperative follow⁃up of patients were recorded. Results All 7 patients successfully completed surgery. The operation duration was 150-245 (184.7±34.4) minutes, the operative bleeding volume estimated was 105.0~210.5 (157.8±36.5) mL, and 1 patient had transient decrease in extensor hallucis dorsi muscle strength after operation. Patients were followed up for 6-18 (11.1±4.4) months after operation. One month after surgery, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for low back pain decreased from 6.6±0.9 preoperatively to 1.6±0.5, and the VAS score for lower limb pain decreased from 7.0±0.8 preoperatively to 1.1±1.0 among 7 patients. Three patients still had feeling of numbness in lower limbs. Six months after operation, foot numbness of 1 patient was significantly relieved but still slightly numb as compared with before operation, and the numbness of the remaining 2 patients was relieved, and muscle strength of the patient with decreased extensor hallucis dorsi returned to normal. No reoperation or other complications such as postoperative infection occurred during follow⁃up. Conclusion UBE⁃assisted ExTLIF for the treatment of patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation has less trauma in operation, faster recovery, fewer complications, and satisfactory early efficacy.

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