Spinal Stenosis Treatment
EndoScopic Spine Surgery
An endoscope is an instrument used for visually examining the interior of a bodily canal like the spine (see image) or a hollow organ such as the colon, bladder, or stomach.
Endoscopic spine surgery, a new technique for spinal stenosis surgery, is a term that denotes the use of an endoscope when performing a minimally invasive operation on the cervical or lumbar spine. A thin tube, with a camera attached, is inserted through a small incision in the area where the operation takes place, the images are then cast on a monitor where the surgeon can view and perform the spinal procedure. Watch an animationSpinal Conditions treated using an Endoscope:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Pinched Nerves
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Bulging/Herniated Discs
- Arthritis of the Spine
- Facet Disease
- Bone Spurs
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery Benefits
- Shorter recovery times
- Less anethesia is used
- Minimal scarring
- Reduced post-operative pain
Endoscopic Spine Surgery Risks
As with any surgery there is the risk of infection, bleeding, and blood clots. The other risk (not really a risk but a disadvantage) associated with endoscopic spine surgery is that only one level may be operated on during the minimally invasive procedure. Therefore, if the patient has a condition across multiple spine levels another operation will have to be performed.
