ENDOSCOPIC SPINAL SURGERY

Endoscopic spine surgery is an advanced form of a minimally invasive surgical technique which can be used to perform a range of procedures on the spine. It involves the use of an endoscope, a thin flexible tube with a lens at one end and a camera at the other, which displays the surgical site to the surgeon on a high definition monitor. The endoscope, along with other specialised micro-instruments, are inserted into the patient through a tiny incision to enable the surgeon to view and treat the spinal structures.

The technique offers patients a number of benefits including much smaller incisions (usually less than 1cm long), less trauma to muscles and soft tissues, lower levels of blood loss, reduced post-operative pain and faster recovery.

It can be used to treat a number of conditions of the spine including:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis and other spinal deformities
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal tumours

Although endoscopic spine surgery can be used for a number of spine procedures, it is not suitable for all patients.