Endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that surgeons perform to treat spine conditions. This type of surgery allows patients to recover faster and experience fewer side effects than they would if they received traditional spine surgery. Surgeons create smaller incisions during endoscopic spine surgery, and specialized medical instruments make this type of surgery possible.
What Is Endoscopic Spine Surgery?
Unlike open surgery, endoscopic spine surgery allows access to spinal pathology through a tiny opening to preserve tissue. During endoscopic spine surgery, surgeons use small cameras (endoscopes) and specialized instruments to access the spine. They create a small incision that causes minimal disruption to surrounding muscles and tissue. This small incision allows surgeons to reach disc herniations in areas that have pressed nerves.
Much like knee and shoulder arthroscopy, spine endoscopy uses an endoscope to show the surgeon all the anatomy without causing collateral damage to healthy tissue. A physician may choose to provide this unique solution for addressing a variety of spine pathologies that are addressed through a minimally invasive approach.
Benefits of Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Endoscopic spine surgery offers significant advantages over traditional spine surgery. By providing this type of surgery, surgeons and other medical professionals can provide their patients with the following benefits:
Less Invasive Procedure
Traditional spine surgeries typically require large skin incisions as well as muscle and bone disruption. Endoscopic spine surgery allows surgeons to access the different types of pathology with less invasive methods, which causes less trauma to the surrounding tissue and bone. This type of surgery has a decreased possibility of complications and is much less invasive than traditional spine surgery.
Faster Recovery Time Than Traditional Surgery
Because endoscopic spine surgery is less invasive than traditional surgical methods, it allows patients to recover faster than they would from traditional spine surgery. With smaller incisions and minimal muscle disruption, patients experience faster recovery times and report less postoperative pain, allowing them to return to regular activities faster. As a result, this type of surgery is more comfortable and convenient for patients.
Endoscopic spine surgery recovery time can vary for different patients, but most individuals can drive two days after surgery and return to all of their regular activities two weeks following the operation. This method of spine surgery causes less scarring than traditional methods, allowing patients a faster recovery period, faster healing and less pain overall.
Success Rate
The endoscopic spine surgery success rate is similar to or equal to the success rate for traditional spine surgery. Endoscopic spine surgery has a success rate of approximately 90%. Endoscopic surgery’s high success rate and fast recovery time make it a much more ideal option than traditional spine surgery.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery Side Effects
When patients undergo endoscopic spine surgery, they may experience some mild side effects. A patient may experience bruising, swelling or pain at the incision site. They may also temporarily experience weakness, tingling or numbness in their legs or arms. Patients might experience these side effects for a few days or weeks as they heal, and the effects typically resolve on their own.
Instruments Used for Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Endoscopic spine surgery is minimally invasive due to the instruments surgeons use to perform it. The following endoscopic spine surgery instruments are what make this type of surgery safe and effective:
- Trigger-Flex® Bipolar Systems: elliquence Trigger-Flex® Bipolar Systems are patented navigational tools used in endoscopic spine surgery. They make it possible for surgeons to address pathology in the spine. The Trigger-Flex is used to shrink remove tissue.
- Disc-FX® System: Surgeons use the elliquence Disc-FX® System to safely and effectively perform discectomy procedures. They use this system to treat contained lumbar spine herniations.
- Surgi-Max Drill – The Surgi-Max Drill is used to remove bone in order to access and visualize the targeted pathology.
- Surgi-Max Ultra – The Surgi-Max Ultra provides patented radio frequency technology used in conjunction with the Trigger-Flex device to treat the pathology or discal herniations.
Ask Your Physician About Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Endoscopic spine surgery is significantly advantageous. With smaller incisions and minimal muscle disruption, endoscopic procedures allow patients to recover quickly and return to their normal activities faster than they would following traditional spine surgery. Contact elliquence to learn more about our advanced tools for endoscopic spine surgery, and talk to your physician to find out if endoscopic spine surgery is right for you.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/minimally-invasive-spine-surgery#surgery-success-rate
https://www.elliquence.com/products/trigger-flex-system/
https://www.elliquence.com/products/disc-fx-system/
https://www.elliquence.com/products/microbipolar/
https://www.elliquence.com/products/bipolar-forceps/