EXPRESS: Evaluation of surgical duration using two different burrs for percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy in cats.

Diamond burrs enable faster, more reliable PE-MHL procedures in cats than cutting burrs.

This comparative study evaluated two burr types for percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy (PE-MHL) in feline cadavers. Twelve skeletally mature domestic shorthair cats underwent bilateral PE-MHL at the L4-L5 level using diamond and cutting burrs in alternating fashion. The diamond burr significantly reduced procedure time (20.85 ± 1.44 minutes) compared to the cutting burr (25.62 ± 1.49 minutes, P = 0.03), achieving the targeted 30% laminar removal (32.38 ± 2.31% achieved). Bone window areas were comparable between groups (P = 0.27), and surgical side had no significant effect on outcomes. Notably, three cutting burrs fractured during procedures while diamond burrs remained intact. The diamond burr demonstrated superior efficiency, precision, and reliability, producing smoother bone margins and reducing overall surgical time. These findings establish the diamond burr as the more effective instrument for controlled endoscopic bone removal in feline spinal surgery, warranting progression to in vivo clinical studies.

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