Endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy

What is endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy utilized for?

Endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy is used to treat patients suffering from neck pain or spinal nerve compression due to an injured and torn cervical disc, resulting in a herniation to the middle and back of the disc.

How is an endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy performed?

Endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy is performed utilizing an endoscope. An endoscope is a small tube inserted into the body, allowing the surgeon to look inside the spine. Because the endoscope is small, only a small band-aid like incision is required. The endoscope has a precision lens on one end and a high definition (HD) camera on the other end. Microscopic instruments are passed through the endoscope to perform surgery. The surgeon visualizes the entire operation, from inside the spine, using the endoscope mounted HD camera. The surgical video is projected on a high-resolution monitor or heads up display.

To start the procedure, a small incision is made on the skin at the front of the neck. A small endoscope is placed through the 7mm tube and is used to visualize the disc herniation and remove protruding disc from the disc tear. Using specialized instruments surgery is performed through these tubes. Surgery is guided by real time HD video and x-rays.

What are the advantages of endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy?

Endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy is an effective procedure for the treatment of neck or nerve pain due to a cervical disc herniation. The main advantage of endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy is the ability to treat pain while preserving as much of the disc as possible. A small channel is used to cross from the front of the disc to the back of the disc, where the tear and disc herniation are located. Only the damaged and herniated disc nucleus is removed. The rest of the disc remains intact, preserving the disc’s natural contribution to neck strength and stability.

Besides minimizing collateral injury to the healthy part of the disc, endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy has another significant advantage; there are no barriers to further treatment. More invasive surgeries can be carried out if need be. Endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy does not close the door to a cervical fusion or disc replacement in the small number of patients who require further treatment.

How long will the procedure take?

The endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy surgery typically takes an hour for each disc. You will be in the operating room for an additional hour preparing for surgery and preparing for recovery. After the procedure you will recover for about two hours before going home.

What is the recovery like?

After endoscopic anterior cervical discectomy, you will go home the same day with pain medications. In most cases light activity can be resumed the next day. Activity should be tolerably increased over 7 days and should consist of short walks, light exercise and a gradual return to normal daily activities. Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting (over 10 to 15 pounds) for the first several weeks. If one’s job is sedentary then work can be resumed in 7 days. Recovery time will vary based on individual factors.

Endoscopic cervical facet debridement

What is endoscopic cervical facet debridement used for?

Endoscopic cervical facet debridement is a minimally invasive procedure that is used for patients with neck pain and headaches emanating from the cervical facet joints. The cervical facet joint is a paired joint on either side of the disc.

How is an endoscopic cervical facet debridement performed?

Endoscopic cervical facet debridement is performed utilizing an endoscope. An endoscope is a small tube inserted into the body, allowing the surgeon to look inside the spine. Because the endoscope is small, only a small band-aid like incision is required. The endoscope has a precision lens on one end and a high definition (HD) camera on the other end. Microscopic instruments are passed through the endoscope to perform surgery. The surgeon visualizes the entire operation, from inside the spine, using the endoscope mounted HD camera. The surgical video is projected on a high-resolution monitor or heads up display.

To start the procedure, a small incision is made on the skin at the back of the neck, right on top of the injured cervical facet joint. A small tube about 7mm in diameter, (less than half the size of a dime), is then placed through the incision and against the facet joint. A small endoscope is placed through the 7mm tube and is used to release the capsule of the injured joint and remove the torn and injured joint components. Using specialized instruments surgery is performed through these tubes. Surgery is guided by real time HD video and x-rays.

What are the advantages of endoscopic cervical facet debridement?

Endoscopic cervical facet debridement allows the surgeon to remove the damaged tissue of a cervical facet joint that results in pain with motion. The surgeon is also able to release the tight capsule of the injured joint, allowing freer movement without pain. Lastly, the surgeon can directly cauterize and remove nerve endings in the joint that sense pain. The tiny opening required means that there is minimal disruption to the facet joints or the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Performing surgery through a tiny skin incision and leaving healthy tissues intact means a same day procedure with a quicker recovery.

Probably the most significant advantage to endoscopic cervical facet debridement is that it provides a long-term option for patients that have undergone other procedures for cervical facet pain and have had a return of pain. About one third of patients undergoing a cervical rhizotomy (the most utilized procedure for cervical facet pain) will have a return of pain in one year. Occasionally these patients will have to endure several cervical rhizotomy procedures. Endoscopic cervical facet debridement provides these difficult patients with a long-term alternative.

How long will the procedure take?

The endoscopic cervical facet debridement surgery typically takes 15-30 minutes for each joint treated. You will be in the operating room for an additional hour preparing for surgery and preparing for recovery. After the procedure you will recover for about two hours before going home.

What is the recovery like?

After endoscopic cervical facet debridement, you will go home the same day with pain medications. In most cases light activity can be resumed the next day. Activity should be tolerably increased over 7 days and should consist of short walks, light exercise and a gradual return to normal daily activities. Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting (over 10 to 15 pounds) for the first several weeks. If one’s job is sedentary then work can be resumed in 7 days. Recovery time will vary based on individual factors.

Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy

What is endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy utilized for?

Endoscopic posterior discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat patients with neck or nerve pain due to a disc herniation that is off to the side of the spinal canal. Endoscopic posterior foraminotomy is used to free a compressed spinal nerve that is caught between the vertebra and an enlarged and degenerated cervical facet joint.

How is an endoscopic posterior foraminotomy/discectomy performed?

Endoscopic posterior foraminotomy/discectomy is performed utilizing an endoscope. An endoscope is a small tube inserted into the body, allowing the surgeon to look inside the spine. Because the endoscope is small, only a small band-aid like incision is required. The endoscope has a precision lens on one end and a high definition (HD) camera on the other end. Microscopic instruments are passed through the endoscope to perform surgery. The surgeon visualizes the entire operation, from inside the spine, using the endoscope mounted HD camera. The surgical video is projected on a high-resolution monitor or heads up display.

To start the procedure, a small incision is made on the skin at the back of the neck. A small tube about 7mm in diameter, (less than half the size of a dime), is then placed into the disc. A small endoscope is placed through the 7mm tube and is used to free the injured cervical nerve from compression and remove protruding disc from the disc tear. Using specialized instruments surgery is performed through these tubes. Surgery is guided by real time HD video and x-rays.

What are the advantages of endoscopic posterior foraminotomy/discectomy?

Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy allows the surgeon to free up compressed nerves in the neck or remove some types of disc herniation through a tiny opening. The tiny opening means that there is minimal disruption to the facet joints or the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Performing surgery through a tiny skin incision and leaving healthy tissues intact means a same day procedure with a quicker recovery.

A second advantage of endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy is that, by approaching the disc herniating from the back of the neck, only the injured and protruding part of the disc must be removed. The healthy portion of the disc remains intact.

How long will the procedure take?

The endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy surgery typically takes an hour for each level treated. You will be in the operating room for an additional hour preparing for surgery and preparing for recovery. After the procedure you will recover for about two hours before going home.

What is the recovery like?

After endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy you will go home the same day with pain medications. In most cases light activity can be resumed the next day. Activity should be tolerably increased over 7 days and should consist of short walks, light exercise and a gradual return to normal daily activities. Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting (over 10 to 15 pounds) for the first several weeks. If one’s job is sedentary then work can be resumed in 7 days. Recovery time will vary based on individual factors.