Paul Houle, MD (Hyannis, MA), performed the first thoracic transforaminal endoscopic discectomy using a full Arthrex tower.
The patient came into the hospital with a several-month history of midthoracic back pain, which radiated from his chest and was worse when he was sitting, picking up his kids or playing golf. Since previous treatment with oral steroids was ineffective, he opted for surgery. His MRI scans indicated disc herniations at the T7 and T8 levels.
The patient underwent surgery under local anesthesia and remained awake and aware for the hour-long procedure. Dr. Houle used the Arthrex Endoscopic instrumentation, the FlexTip radiofrequency probe, and the 7 mm-diameter endoscope.
With the patient awake, Dr. Houle was able to ask questions and monitor his pain level throughout the procedure, making immediate adjustments as needed. Upon completion of the surgery, the patient reported complete resolution of his symptoms and was able to return home the same day.
Dr. Houle, a national leader in endoscopic spine surgery, has performed transforaminal discectomies under local anesthesia for more than a decade. He was first introduced to the Synergy tower and Endoscopic instrumentation when visiting the Naples campus ArthroLab™ and Product Showcase.
Ryan Vazza, Spine Manager at Arthrex Massachusetts, shared that Dr. Houle was impressed with the system’s capabilities compared to the competitor’s offerings. Dr. Houle frequently commented on the tower’s amazing video quality as well as the ergonomics of the instrumentation.
Although Dr. Houle completed a handful of endoscopic transforaminal discectomies addressing pathologies of the lumbar spine, this was the first case in the thoracic spine. The visual capabilities of the Synergy technology was integral to the successful outcome.
Ryan emphasized the importance of strong visual capabilities when dealing with thoracic pathologies.
“Having this high-quality camera resolution and versatile instrumentation allows surgeons to perform surgeries in the thoracic spine in a safe and effective manner,” he said. “It would be a much more difficult surgery without these tools.”
A typical endoscopic discectomy located on the lumbar spine takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. The complexity of thoracic patient anatomy makes the procedure more difficult due to close proximity to the spinal cord and higher risk of nerve damage.
In the past, surgeons would treat this pathology by performing a thoracotomy using a chest tube, resulting in a multiple-day hospitalization in the intensive care unit and significant postoperative pain. Now, with innovative endoscopic technology like the Arthrex Endoscopic Spine portfolio, this procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia.
Disclaimers: This is not medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by a surgeon or other qualified medical professional on the use of these products. You should talk with your physician or health care provider for more information about your health condition and whether Arthrex products might be appropriate for you. The surgeon who performs any surgical procedure is responsible for determining and using the appropriate techniques for surgical procedures on each individual patient. Arthrex recommends that surgeons be trained on the use of any particular product before using it in surgery. A surgeon must always rely on their own professional medical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product when treating a particular patient. A surgeon must always refer to the package insert, product label, and/or directions for use before using any Arthrex product. Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional’s assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes. Products may not be available in all markets because product availability is subject to the regulatory approvals and medical practices in individual markets. Please contact Arthrex if you have questions about the availability of products in your area.
Physician is a paid consultant of Arthrex Inc.