Endoscopic Discectomy
Endoscopic Discectomy
Endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive spine surgery performed to treat disc problems that cause back and leg pain. A unique feature of this technique is the technology used to access the spine; through a keyhole incision, surgery is performed using an endoscope.
An endoscope is a flexible or stiff tube with a tiny camera at the end. The endoscope delivers the surgeon an excellent view of the disc and related structures. The enhanced view allows the surgeon to select the part of the disc to be removed. Instead of cutting through tissues (eg, muscle) to access the spine, dilation tubes gently separate soft tissue and are graduated in size to enlarge the operative field.
Some of the benefits of endoscopic discectomy include:
- tiny incision
- less tissue disruption
- less blood loss
- less post-operative pain
- quicker recovery