The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City has successfully performed its first Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic (UBE) spine surgery, the hospital’s Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology announced on Tuesday, March 31.
The patient, a 72-year-old female, had been suffering from severe leg pain. She was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis at the L3–L4 level, a condition where the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves.
The CLMMRH Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology reported that the surgical team performed a UBE decompression, which included hemilaminotomy, over-the-top flavectomy, bilateral partial facetectomy, and discectomy to achieve adequate nerve root decompression.
The milestone procedure was led by spine consultant Dr. Ma. Ella Muriel F. Valdevieso and assistant Dr. Natalie Aimee Dedel, in collaboration with Cebu-based UBE spine consultant Dr. Eric Astelo Belarmino.
This successful operation introduces a novel, minimally invasive technique to the region, significantly expanding the hospital’s capacity for advanced, patient-centered care, the CLMMRH report said.
Hospital officials noted that UBE spine surgery is a major advancement for local healthcare, as the technique is widely associated with favorable clinical outcomes, reduced complication rates, and significantly shorter hospital stays for patients.*
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