As the Arthrex Endoscopic Spine evolution expands worldwide, Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate news station KDKA recently highlighted the revolutionary technology in their “Eye on Health” segment.
Ryan Sauber, MD, shared how the ultra minimally invasive techniques are benefitting patients at Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford Hospital as part of their endoscopic spine surgery program.
Watch the full segment:
As Dr. Sauber explained, an endoscopic approach is an ultra minimally invasive surgical technique performed by either an orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in spine surgery, or a neurosurgeon. Compared to traditional open surgery where the incision could be three to four times larger, the small incision required for an endoscopic approach may lead to less tissue and muscle disruption, resulting in fewer postoperative complications, shorter recovery times, and a quicker return to normal activity.1-4
Endoscopic surgery is performed through a small incision, typically less than 1 cm in length. During this procedure, the surgeon will insert a cannula through the incision to allow access. Then through the cannula, the surgeon will insert a spine-specific endoscope (a microcamera fitted with a light source) allowing them to clearly see the surgical site.
Traditional, or open, spine surgery requires a large incision to perform the procedure. Unlike endoscopic spine surgery, this requires the surgeon to dissect and often damage the paraspinal muscles, which allow you to lean side to side and arch, bend, and twist the torso. Open surgery also often requires the removal of bone to access certain regions.
Endoscopic spine surgery uses specialized instruments that allow the surgeon to view the surgical site and operate without needing to make large incisions. This minimizes disruption, or potential damage, to surrounding soft tissue, such as the paraspinal muscles, and reduces the need to remove bone. Instead, the surgeon makes a small opening to insert an endoscope and microsurgical tools to address many conditions that may require surgical intervention.
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