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Endoscopic Discectomy of the Lumbar and Cervical Spine
Atlantic Spinal Care is a national leader in endoscopic spine surgery. We perform endoscopic discectomy in both cervical and lumbar regions of the spine. This minimally invasive approach has provided long-lasting pain relief for thousands of patients. The two endoscopic discectomy procedures vary slightly so we have provided you with information about each below.
Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy
What Is Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy?
Lumbar endoscopic discectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove damaged disc material that is causing pain in the lower back. Endoscopic discectomy is a modern technique that does not involve bone removal, muscle damage, or large skin incisions. Instead, our lumbar endoscopic discectomy involves the use of x-ray imaging and magnified video to guide an endoscopic probe into the herniated disc space.
Advantages of lumbar endoscopic discectomy surgery include the following:
- Minimally invasive
- Small incision and minimal scar tissue formation
- Short recovery
- Same-day surgery with no hospitalization (outpatient procedure)
- High success rate
- Preservation of spinal mobility
- Local anesthesia
- Minimal blood loss
What Conditions Can Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Treat?
Lumbar endoscopic discectomy can be used to treat a number of spinal conditions in the lumbar region of the spine, including:
- Disc Bulge
- Disc Herniations
- Disc tear
- Radiculitis
- Radiculopathy
When Is Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy Recommended?
Lumbar endoscopic discectomy is recommended in the following situations.
- Lower back pain or buttock pain with or without leg pain persists for more than 8-12 weeks.
- The pain is unresponsive to conservative treatments, including physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, DRX non-surgical manipulations, manipulations under anesthesia, spinal injections, or if previous surgery has failed.
- MRI, CT scan, and discography document lumbar disc problems such as disc annular tear, disc bulge, and disc herniations.
- An electric nerve diagnostic test or EMG test demonstrates nerve root compression or irritation.
How Is Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Done?
With our lumbar endoscopic discectomy procedure, the patient is brought to the operative room, and intravenous sedation is administered. Under local anesthesia, a small metal tube, the size of a pencil, is inserted into the troublesome lumbar spine area under x-ray fluoroscopy guidance. This tube serves as a passage for the surgical tools so that the patient’s muscles do not have to be torn or cut, as what happens in open discectomy. Then, the annular tear, bulging disc, or herniated disc can be found easily with a tiny camera (endoscope) looking through the tube. Under the guidance of the x-ray fluoroscopy and magnified video, a large piece of the herniated disc is pulled out with a grasper. A small disc bulge or annular tear can be treated with a laser, which vaporizes disc material, kills pain nerves inside the disc, and hardens the disc to prevent further leakage of disc material to the surrounding nerves. Finally, the tube is removed and the incision is closed with a stitch or two.
Endoscope inserted, Disc is viewed on a video monitor
Damaged disc material is removed
Disc wall treated, Surrounding area inspected
Upon completion, the patient is encouraged to walk around and is free to leave the surgical center with a companion the same day.
Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy
What Is Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy?
Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove herniated disc material that is causing pain the neck. This minimally invasive surgery requires only a small incision and does not involve bone removal. With the guidance of x-ray imaging and magnified video, the surgeon is able to precisely insert the surgical tools into the herniated disc space.
Advantages of Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy surgery are similar to those of endoscopic lumbar discectomy, and they include:
- Minimally invasive
- Small incision and minimal scar tissue formation
- Speedy recovery
- Reduced need for pain medication
- Same day surgery with no hospitalization (outpatient procedure)
- High success rate
- Minimal blood loss
What Conditions Can Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Treat?
- Brachial neuritis
- Cervical disc bulge
- Cervical disc tear
- Cervical disc herniations
When Is Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy Recommended?
Endoscopic is generally recommended in the following situations.
- Persistent headache, upper back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, or tingling and numbness in upper extremities
- Symptoms unresponsive to conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and spinal steroid injections for 8-12 weeks
- CT, discography, and MRI showing cervical disc bulge, tear, or herniation
How Is Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy Surgery Done?
Cervical endoscopic discectomy is generally done under general anesthesia. A small metal tube of about 4 mm in diameter is inserted to the target cervical spine area with disc problems under X-ray guidance. The herniated disc can be found easily with a camera looking through the tube. Under the guidance of the x-ray fluoroscopy and magnified video, a large piece of herniated disc is pulled out with a grasper. A small disc bulge or annular tear is treated with a laser, which vaporizes disc material, kills pain nerves within the disc, and hardens the disc to prevent further leakage of disc material to the surrounding area. Finally, the tube is removed and the incision is closed with a stitch or two.
Upon completion, the patient is encouraged to walk around, and is free to leave the surgical center, with a companion, the same day. Then after a post-operative visit the following day with the surgeon, the patient can return home for a comfortable recovery.
Endoscope inserted, Disc is viewed on a video monitor
Damaged disc material is removed
Disc wall treated, Surrounding area inspected
What are People Saying?
Angela Linehan (Mineola, NY)
Surgery / Procedure: Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy and Foraminotomy
I was in constant pain 24 hours a day. I felt burning and throbbing in my hand and it was very sensitive to the touch.
The surgery has taken 75% of the pain away. I am still on medication which helps me to function. Before I had this procedure, even pain medication did not help to take most of the pain away. Now I am able to live a full life. In my opinion, Dr. Liu has given me my life back.
I will absolutely recommend Dr. Liu. In fact, I have to spoken to one of his patients who is a candidate for this procedure and I highly recommend it.