- History: For more than four decades, Arthrex has been at the forefront of orthopedics and sports medicine. Upon evaluating the spine market, the company observed that many spine surgeries, particularly spinal fusions, were performed through large open incisions. Even nonfusion surgeries often relied on these invasive methods, which cause significant muscle and tissue disruption. Arthrex recognized an opportunity to apply its expertise in product development and to introduce a more tissue-sparing, minimally invasive approach to spine surgery.
- Context: Eight out of 10 adults experience back pain in their life.1-2 The spine is one of the most complex structures in the human body and plays a critical role in allowing movement and providing stability. Damage due to an injury or condition can affect the spine’s ability to move like it should, and you may experience symptoms including pain or discomfort, numbness, weakness, muscle stiffness, and more.
- What Is Endoscopic Spine Surgery?
Endoscopic spine surgery is an ultra-minimally invasive surgical technique performed by either an orthopedic-trained spine surgeon or neurosurgeon. Often, these procedures can be performed in an outpatient setting, potentially allowing you to go home the same day. 3
Specially designed instruments like the endoscope, which is about the width of a pencil, allow surgeons to view and reach small areas of the spine without the need for the large incision required for traditional back surgery. This minimizes disruption and damage to muscles responsible for stabilizing the back and reduces the need to remove bone.
Surgeon will use an ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic approach to reach and view the medial branch nerve, then transect it. By cutting this sensory nerve, neural receptors can no longer receive the pain signals transmitted from nearby arthritic joints and the nerve cannot grow back to cause pain again.
Interlaminar Approach: Treats herniated discs and spinal stenosis; most commonly used to treat herniated discs in the lower back, generally at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 levels of the lumbar spine.
Surgeon will use ultra-minimally invasive instrumentation, including a spine endoscope and high-resolution camera, to reach the herniated disc in order to remove the herniated portion of the disc.
Transforaminal Approach: Treats herniated discs; most commonly used to treat herniated discs in the lower back, generally at the L3-L4 or L4-L5 levels of the lumbar spine.
Surgeon will make a small incision along the “ridge” of back above the herniated disc. The ultra-minimally invasive endoscope allows surgeon to get a direct view of the herniation and remove it.
- Why Endoscopic Spine Surgery?
Faster recovery and return to normal activity4
Fewer postoperative complications and infections and less postoperative pain5-7
Shown to require fewer or no narcotic pain medications8
Smaller incisions help prevent damage to major muscles in the back9
- Where can I find more information?
Arthrex recently launched ArthrexEndoscopicSpine.com, a patient education resource dedicated to highlighting the benefits of endoscopic spine surgery. The site allows patients to explore ultra-minimally invasive treatment options designed to restore function, preserve motion, and minimize pain.
