Endoscopic spine surgery vs microdiscectomy, why is it better and what benefits does it provide?

Endoscopic spine surgery is a surgery that has improved and revolutionized microdiscectomy for several reasons:

1. It does not require a surgical assistant.
2. Bleeding is minimal or non-existent.
3. In the hands of great experts in Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery, a procedure can last less than 15 minutes.
4. Possibility of performing the procedure under local anesthesia in an almost painless way.
5. The better visualization and navigation within the canal offers us images that we could not see by microsurgery (with the microscope).
6. In this technique the endoscope is inside the canal, which allows us to see in all directions both the thecal sac and roots and surrounding structures, etc.. With the microscope, on the other hand, it is outside the patient, so it is always limited by the angulation and the tissues.

In what cases is endoscopic spine surgery applied and what pathologies can be treated?

Practically any spinal pathology can be treated with endoscopic surgery: from herniated discs (cervical and lumbar) to canal stenosis, some canal tumors, radicular and articular cysts and canal infections. Nowadays, even endoscopically guided fusions can be performed in cases of instability.

Are there any risks during surgery?

There are no risk-free surgical procedures, as there is always some possibility. However, in endoscopic spine surgery the risks are minimal, since:

• There is no bleeding.
• It does not require a lot of medication (something that can decompensate patients).
• Intervention times are shorter.
• There is greater surgical safety.
• There is less risk of injuring neurological structures by excessive traction.
• There is less risk of durotomy.

Why is spinal endoscopy considered a minimally invasive technique at the forefront of spinal surgery?

Today we can address practically all spinal pathologies by means of endoscopic surgery, being able to solve from cervical or thoracic spine pathologies to lumbar spine pathologies. In addition, it allows us to deal with pathologies that were previously unthinkable, such as tumors, canal stenosis or even instabilities.

We already combine navigation technology with endoscopically guided fusion devices to minimize surgical risks.