Eight out of 10 adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions in the United States.1-2 During a recent interview on The ROAR FM, Arthrex Global Spine Director Zak Kemp discussed how endoscopic spine surgery is helping surgeons treat certain spinal conditions through smaller incisions and tissue-sparing techniques.
Speaking with host Mickey Plyler, Kemp explained that Arthrex entered the spine market with a goal similar to its work in sports medicine: helping surgeons treat patients through less invasive approaches.
"We're making about a seven-millimeter incision, about the diameter of a No. 2 pencil, and sliding into the spine without disrupting all the surrounding tissue," said Kemp.
Unlike traditional spine procedures that often require larger incisions and greater muscle dissection, endoscopic spine techniques allow surgeons to access the spine through narrow anatomical corridors. This approach can help reduce postoperative pain, lower infection risk and support a quicker recovery.3-5
"Most people are up and walking about an hour after surgery, and the average person is probably going to return to whatever their normal activity was before surgery in about six to eight weeks,” said Kemp.
Kemp also shared that endoscopic spine surgery may expand treatment options for some patients, as candidacy is determined more by a patient's specific anatomy and underlying condition rather than by age or body mass index.
"You're not alone," Kemp said. "If someone is recommending spine surgery, make sure you're getting more than one opinion. You're in charge of your own health care."
Looking ahead, Kemp said endoscopic techniques will continue to evolve, enabling surgeons to treat an increasing number of spinal conditions.
"We're going to continue to evolve to be able to treat larger pathologies endoscopically," Kemp said. "The goal is for people to get the spine surgery they need without the large incisions and soft tissue disruption associated with traditional procedures."
Patients interested in learning more about endoscopic spine surgery can visit ArthrexEndoscopicSpine.com and use the Find a Doctor tool to connect with surgeons in their area trained in these ultra-minimally invasive techniques.
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