Endoscopic Discectomy of the Lumbar and Cervical Spine

Endoscopic discectomy, a common type of endoscopic spinal surgery, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove herniated disc material that is causing pain in the lower back and legs (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), or neck and arms (cervical).

Endoscopic discectomy is the least invasive and most effective surgical technique for treating spinal disc herniation patients. With endoscopic spine surgery, surgeons do not need to remove bones and muscles in order to remove herniated discs. Surgeons can see the spine with a camera, smaller than a smart phone camera, through a small surgical port (tube). Large incisions are avoided. The procedure does not traumatize your spine like traditional spine surgeries do. The whole procedure for a disc herniation takes about 30 minutes. The patient goes home in 2-3 hours when the surgery is done in a surgery center.

What are the Advantages of an Endoscopic Discectomy?

Our Endoscopic Discectomy is a true minimally invasive spine surgery that include the following advantages:

• Minimally Invasive
• Short recovery
• High Success rate
• Preservation of spinal mobility
• Local Anesthesia
• Minimal blood loss
• Same-day surgery with no hospitalization (outpatient procedure)
• Small incision and minimal scar tissue formation

What conditions Can an Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Treat?

• Disc Bulge
• Herniated Disc
• Disc Tear
• Radiculitis
• Radiculopathy
• Brachial Neuritis
• Cervical Disc Bulge
• Cervical Disc Tear
• Cervical Herniated Disc

How is an Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Performed?

With our discectomy procedure, the patient is brought to the operative room, and intravenous sedation is administered. Under anesthesia, a small metal tube is inserted to the spine for direct visualization. This tube serves as a passage for the surgical tools so that the patient’s muscles do not have to be torn or cut. Then, the annular tear, bulging disc, or herniated disc can be found easily under direct visualization looking through the tube.

Under the guidance of the x-ray fluoroscopy and direct visualization, a piece of the herniated disc is pulled out with a grasper. A small disc bulge or annular tear can be treated with a laser, which vaporizes disc material, kills pain nerves inside the disc, and hardens the disc to prevent further leakage of disc material to the surrounding nerves. Finally, the tube is removed and the incision is closed with a stitch or two.

Types of endoscopic spine surgery