Endoscopic Laser Treatment of Spinal Disorders
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For decades, spine surgeons have used large incisions to treat spinal conditions. Open back and neck surgery consists of a large incision, along with hospitalization and a lengthy recovery time. Since the early 1970s, the arthroscope has been utilized to operate on knees and shoulders. Laser Spine Institute applies this technology in outpatient surgical procedure of spinal disorders.
Through a small incision a series of tubes, increasing in size, are placed over the first tube, one at a time, to slowly create an opening to the spine. Through the last translucent working tube (18mm in diameter), the surgeon operates on the area using a fiber optic camera, laser, suction, irrigation and other small surgical instruments.
Patient Benefits
This type of minimally invasive surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic and deep intravenous sedation. Endoscopic surgery and use of endoscopic tubes minimizes muscle and other soft tissue damage. Patient benefits include less bleeding during surgery, reduced postoperative discomfort, fewer and smaller incisions, and no lengthy recovery. In addition, patients can avoid hospitalization and spinal fusion.
Endoscopic
Spine Procedures
Depending on the patient's diagnosis and surgical needs, sometimes more than one procedure is performed during a single surgery. There are 4 primary endoscopic spine procedures:
- Foraminotomy: A foraminotomy helps to relieve symptoms caused by nerve root compression. The foramen are passageways between the vertebrae through which nerve roots exit the spinal canal. A foraminotomy may be performed to treat foraminal stenosis, bulging or herniated discs, pinched nerves, bone spurs (osteophytes), spinal arthritis, or sciatica.
During a foraminotomy, the surgeon endoscopically removes bone and tissue compressing the spinal nerve root.
Visit Laser Spine Institute's website to learn more about foraminotomy.
- Laminotomy: A laminotomy is performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord by increasing space around the nerve roots and spinal cord. The lamina is the bony plate covering each vertebra's posterior arch, or entryway to the spinal canal and nerve structures.
A laminotomy may also be performed to remove the ligamentum flavum. This is the spine's largest ligament. Sometimes the ligamentum flavum becomes thick and compresses the spinal cord contributing to spinal stenosis. When the surgeon removes part of the lamina, he can access the ligamentum flavum for removal.
Visit Laser Spine Institute's website to learn more about laminotomy.
- Endoscopic Discectomy: An endoscopic discectomy is the surgical removal of bulging or herniated disc material pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord.
During this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon uses a laser to vaporize disc material to reduce pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Surgeons utilize X-ray monitoring and fiber-optics devices in order to see precisely what is compressing the nerve and to remove it without causing any destabilization of the spine.
Visit Laser Spine Institute's website to learn more about endoscopic discectomy.
- Facet Thermal Ablation: A facet thermal ablation is performed to treat facet disease, facet joint syndrome, facet hypertrophy (enlargement), facet arthritis, or facet joints affected by degeneration. The facet joints are the spine's joints. Found at the back of the spine, 2 vertebrae share 1 facet joint.
Thermal ablation refers to disabling or destroying a nerve using a laser. During the procedure, the surgeon uses a laser to clean the facet joint and deaden the nerve that innervates the joint and causes pain.
Visit Laser Spine Institute's website to learn more about facet thermal ablation.
