Endoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows your doctor to examine and treat conditions inside your body without making large incisions. It is also performed to perform tasks like minor surgery and imaging. The physician uses an endoscope, a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and camera attached to one end to perform the procedure.
Spinal endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat various conditions of the spine. It is performed through small incisions in the back, which allow the surgeon to access and treat the affected area without causing extensive damage to the surrounding tissue. The procedure is transforming the way spine conditions are treated.
Endoscopic surgery has many potential benefits, including
- Shorter hospital stays
- Reduced risk of infection
- Reduced scarring
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Less pain
- Fewer complications
As the procedure involves a very small incision, the physician may cover it with a small bandage.
Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy: It is one of the minimally invasive procedures that aid in relieving pain from extruded, protruded, and bulging discs or also low back pain. This surgical spine procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure to eliminate herniated disc material. With the help of this technique, a small part of a herniated disc, stressing the spinal nerve can be removed.
Endoscopic Foraminoplasty: It helps in relieving back pain caused due to the stress on the existing spinal cord or nerve, caused due to scar tissue, bone spurs, and herniated disc. This technique is helpful when the foramina, which are tiny openings between vertebrae that nerves pass through become narrow. This process is done by removing the blockage present in the foramina.
Endoscopic Facet Rhizotomy: This treatment technique is used for treating facet joint syndrome. In this procedure, the spine surgeon places an endoscope and small cannula to the HD camera within the back and focuses medial branch nerve visually. The procedure takes about approximately one hour.
How Is Endoscopic Surgery Performed?
Under x-ray fluoroscopy and local anesthesia, a blunt dilator, guidewire, and a needle are placed into the foramen. A small incision is then made between the vertebrae ( through the back muscles) into herniated disc space. The metal tube is positioned across the dilator to develop access. A microendoscope is then inserted into the herniated disc. The surgeon can now view the nerve, disc, and other structures as well as eliminate problematic disc, thus relaxing the nerves.