Expanded Indications

Dr. Yeung’s transforaminal techniques are evolving along with improvements in endoscopes, instruments, and devices that facilitate the learning process for other similarly minded and dedicated surgeons.

Dr. Yeung served as the editor of a special issue in the International Journal of Spine Surgery that contain updated studies by Dr. Yeung and other blinded peer reviewed articles by MIS spine contributors. The articles are now published in the free access Journal and online.

The special issue can be accessed at:

International Journal of Spine Surgery: Percutaneous and Endoscopic Special Issue

The articles in this issue contain articles that summarize the results of procedures performed by the surgeons at DISC trained by Dr. Yeung, who also had the transforaminal decompressive procedures performed on himself by his DISC associates. The articles include articles written by Dr. Yeung.

1. The “inside out” transforaminal technique to treat lumbar pain in an awake and aware patient under local anesthesia : results and a review of the literature (Download the article)

2. Endoscopically Guided Foraminal and Dorsal Rhizotomy for Chronic Axial Back Pain Based on Cadaver and Endoscopically Visualized Anatomic Study (Download the article)

3. Endoscopic Foraminal Decompression for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome under local Anesthesia (Download the article)

These articles serve to provide the spine literature references to the YESS SED philosophy and technique.

75% of patients who are candidates for traditional MIS decompression and fusion have been able to avoid fusion if their spinal condition meets Dr. Yeung’s criteria for MIS Decompression and Ablation, and Irrigation.

Now, having over 24 years experience with Dr. Yeung’s technique, Our extensive experience with this evolving innovative transforaminal technique developed and evolved by Dr. Yeung is has demonstrated excellent results for conditions such as Failed Back surgery syndrome from recurrent disc herniations, lateral foraminal stenosis, and even scarring in the foramen to relieve your back pain and sciatica by focusing on decompressing, ablating, and irrigating the patho-anatomy of your pain generators.

It is not designed nor guaranteed to “cure” your condition indefinitely. The aging process continues and recurrent pain occurs as your spine deteriorates with age. That is true especially if previous spine surgery was successful, but symptoms have returned.

The conditions we treat now include painful conditions that, if relieved temporarily by transforaminal epidural blocks, but the pain recurs frequently enough that more than three blocks / year are required to continue the relief, transforaminal endoscopic surgical decompression will provide longer periods of pain relief.

Previously we considered transforaminal surgery only if the blocks failed. This technique in experienced hands with all the surgeons at DISC can treat the painful condition effectively if needed for quality of life. It is also cost effective compared with more extensive and more surgically morbid surgery considered the “gold standard”, or multiple pain injections and pain meds that only provide temporary limited relief.

Advanced, Safe Techniques Enhanced by Operating With Minimal or Local-only Anesthesia

The ability for the surgeon to see and probe the pain generators adds to the safety and efficacy of treating these pain generators that is often missed if only imaging studies are relied upon. This offers new evidenced-based guidelines that most spine surgeons are not aware of unless they can demonstrate probing and communication with an awake patient.

These videos offer new information that showcases the YESS technique and how advanced it is in experienced hands that allow the surgeon to see patho-anatomy not illustrated with any other Endoscopic technique.