Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Spine Surgery

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• Create Date November 4, 2003
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Endoscopic spine surgery is evolving rapidly due to improvements in surgical technique, endoscope design, and instrumentation. In an experienced surgeon's hands, the endoscopic foraminal approach can be utilized for most lumbar disc herniations and for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. The advantage of the foraminal endoscopic technique is the ability to reach, visualize, and treat intradiscal and foraminal pathologic lesions without destabilizing the posterior muscle column and facets. The learning curve is steep, but once mastered, the surgeon is able to reach any pathologic lesion in the foramen, including noncontained disc herniations, foraminal stenosis, foraminal osteophytosis, facet cysts, and annular tears.