Endoscopic operations on the spine
Endoscopic spinal surgery is an innovative technique that enables minimally invasive procedures on the spine. Compared to conventional microscopic procedures, endoscopic spinal surgery offers several advantages:
1. Minimal tissue traumatization
Endoscopic procedures require only small incisions to access the affected areas of the spine. This minimizes the extent of tissue trauma compared to microscopic surgery. Fewer incisions usually mean less pain, less risk of bleeding and faster recovery.
2. Shorter recovery time
Because less tissue is affected, patients often experience a faster recovery. The shortened recovery time allows patients to return to normal activities more quickly and rapidly improve their quality of life. One study showed that competitive athletes were able to return to competition after only 2 months following endoscopic disc surgery, while athletes who had undergone microscopic surgery were only able to compete after 6 months.
3. Lower risk of infection
Endoscopic spinal surgery reduces the risk of post-operative infections. Smaller incisions mean fewer open wounds, which significantly reduces the likelihood of infection.
4. Precise diagnosis and therapy
The use of high-resolution endoscopes gives surgeons a detailed view of the affected area. This enables precise diagnosis and treatment. Surgeons can target the problem and treat it without unnecessarily affecting surrounding healthy tissue.
5. Shorter hospital stays
Due to the reduced invasiveness and faster recovery, patients have a shorter hospital stay after endoscopic procedures.
6. Cosmetic benefits
The smaller incisions in endoscopic procedures result in minimal scarring. This is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but can also help patients to recover more quickly psychologically.
7. Less post-operative pain
Due to less tissue trauma and smaller incisions, patients experience less to no post-operative pain. This can help to reduce or completely eliminate the need for strong painkillers.
8. Maintaining spinal stability
The endoscopic technique allows surgeons to target problematic areas without unnecessarily affecting the surrounding spinal structure. This helps to better maintain the stability of the spine.
Despite these advantages, it is important to note that not all spinal problems can be treated endoscopically, and the choice of the right technique depends on the type and severity of each case. There should always be an individual consideration of the benefits of minimally invasive surgery and the specific needs of the patient. The decision as to whether an operation can be performed endoscopically should be made by a doctor who is highly experienced in endoscopy. This is because, like any other technique, endoscopy requires a lot of practice and training in order to gain experience and then operate safely on more complicated cases.
The most common endoscopic procedures on the spine are:
- Herniated discs in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine
- Narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal canal stenosis)
- Facet denervation
If in doubt, it is certainly an advantage to get a second opinion from colleagues who have performed several thousand procedures and have more than 25 years of experience in spinal endoscopy, such as Professor Christian Woiciechowsky.
