Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) is an ultra minimally invasive surgical procedure that effectively relieves chronic low back and leg pain.

This state-of-the-art spine surgery utilizes an HD camera attached to an endoscope inserted through a ¼ inch skin incision to the target pain generator in your spine.

The endoscopic orthopedic procedure allows spine surgeons to operate safely, with greater accuracy, and offer patients better outcomes.

The surgeon can observe the spine on an HD monitor and operate through the endoscope using highly specialized micro-instruments like a laser, radiofrequency probe, or graspers.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS), the standard of care in spine surgery, represents a broad spectrum of techniques, with endoscopic being the least invasive. Endoscopic spine surgery is as effective as the MIS microdiscectomy procedure at relieving painful spine conditions.

However, unlike MIS, endoscopic spine surgery significantly reduces trauma to the patient’s muscles and soft tissue leading to faster recovery. The endoscopic procedure utilizes a surgical approach that avoids the major stabilizing muscles of the lower back.

Unlike the MIS incision of one inch or more, ESS uses a ¼ inch incision. Smaller surgical incisions and avoiding major back muscles can significantly improve patient outcomes.

Sometimes called ultra-minimally invasive, the endoscopic technique can be performed faster, allowing the surgeon better access to the spinal nerves and disc, and superior visualization.  Also, ESS requires no general anesthesia, which affords patients less risk and faster discharge from the hospital within 2-3 hours of surgery.

Specialized micro-instruments are placed through the endoscope to assist the surgeon in ablating and decompressing the affected spinal nerves. The surgeon often targets and resects herniated disc and bone spurs that may be impinging the spinal nerves.

Laser spine surgery is a marketing gimmick for many. Still, at DISC, our surgeons utilize a side-firing laser and radiofrequency energy often during ESS as one of many surgical instruments at their disposal.

After surgery, the spinal nerves are decompressed and free from impingement. A steroid injection is often administered thru the scope at the spinal level to enhance patient comfort and minimize post-operative inflammatory pain. The scope and cannula are removed, and one small stitch is used, applying a small bandage on the skin.

Patients are moved to recovery and monitored for an hour or two before being released to go home.

Traditional or minimally invasive spine surgery aims to improve pain by decompressing or relieving pressure and irritation on the spinal cord and exiting nerve roots. During spine surgery, a surgeon is cautious to preserve spinal anatomy and the functionality of the spinal muscles in the patient’s back.

Sometimes, a surgeon’s outcomes do not align with patient expectations. Although the surgery has been successful, patients often experience residual pain or pain from surgical disruption of the spinal anatomy and back muscles.

Endoscopic spine surgery aligns with a surgeon’s expected surgical outcomes and more closely with the patient’s desired expectations.

The patient’s desired results are to achieve relief from painful symptoms, restore physical function and resume their quality of life as soon as possible.

Endoscopic spine surgery utilizes the least invasive surgical approach that accomplishes a surgeon’s surgical outcome and patient expectations.

The surgeon has enhanced visualization and targeting of the spinal canal with less trauma than traditional spine surgery and an MIS microdiscectomy.

The result is an outcome that exceeds the surgeon and the patient’s expectations.

Suppose you are suffering in pain with a spinal condition and have failed conservative treatment. In that case, you may be a candidate for endoscopic spine surgery.

Endoscopic spine surgery has excellent results in treating a herniated disc, facet joint syndrome, foraminal stenosis, and failed back surgery.

Our candidate selection process begins with our proprietary Personalized Pain Mapping, where we define and identify the specific pain generator.

We listen carefully to your pain journey and your desired outcomes. Then we use diagnostic and therapeutic injections to pinpoint the pain generator.

We personalize a treatment plan that will effectively address your pain and desired outcomes with the patient. Many of our patients get better without any surgical intervention.

However, those patients we select for endoscopic spine surgery have great results and a high level of satisfaction.

As a leader in least invasive spine surgery, DISC is bridging the gap between pain management and ultra minimally invasive spine surgery.