Endoscopic Spine

Minimally invasive spine surgery has significant advantages over open surgery, including faster healing and less pain. The experienced Minimally Invasive Medical Group team specializes in using endoscopic techniques that cause minimal tissue damage. They perform various back and neck pain procedures at offices in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Irvine, California. Call the nearest office today or book an appointment online to learn how you could benefit from the team’s expertise in endoscopic spine surgery.

What is endoscopic spine surgery?

Endoscopic spine surgery is an alternative to open surgery. Traditional open surgery uses large incisions through the muscles that increase the risk of spinal damage and complications. Endoscopic spine surgery uses techniques that avoid the need for large incisions.

Instead, the Minimally Invasive Medical Group team uses an endoscope — a miniaturized camera at the tip of a flexible tube — and specialized instruments to access your spine. This muscle-sparing approach causes significantly less postoperative pain with reduced bleeding and scarring. The risk of infection is also lower, and you should recover much faster.

Endoscopic spine surgery requires moderate sedation rather than a general anesthetic, so it’s less risky than open surgery. It’s an excellent choice for high-risk patients with other health problems.

What can endoscopic spine surgery treat?

Endoscopic spine surgery offers an effective solution for patients with neck and/or back pain caused by common conditions like:

• Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy)
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Facet joint disease

You might be a suitable candidate for endoscopic spine surgery if you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments with little success. Your age, weight, and lifestyle are also important in determining if endoscopic spine surgery is a good choice.

What happens during endoscopic spine surgery?

Before your surgery, the Minimally Invasive Medical Group team gives you a local anesthetic to numb any pain. Your surgeon makes a small quarter-inch incision in your back and inserts a guide wire using fluoroscopic (moving X-ray) guidance. Then, they thread the endoscope over the guide wire and into the treatment area.

When the endoscope is positioned, your surgeon can see the damaged tissues on a video screen. They pass specialized instruments down the endoscope to repair the damage and remove tissue or bone.

After completing endoscopic spine surgery, your surgeon removes the endoscope and closes the incision using adhesive strips or stitches. Most patients resume their usual activities about a week after surgery.

Endoscopic spine surgery requires an exceptional degree of skill to complete successfully. Minimally Invasive Medical Group’s surgeons have years of experience and training to ensure their patients receive the best care. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today to determine if endoscopic spine surgery is right for you.