01 — Overview
Endoscopic surgery reaches the disc and the nerve through a small working channel, using a camera rather than a wide open exposure. The muscles are dilated apart rather than detached, which is the main reason recovery differs from traditional open surgery. It is a demanding technique and it is suited to pathology that can be reached through that channel.
02 — Who it suits
- A disc herniation compressing a nerve root
- Foraminal narrowing at a defined level
- Recurrent herniation after prior surgery
- Patients for whom a larger open exposure carries added risk
03 — How it is done
Under imaging guidance a working channel is passed to the target, either from the side through the foramen or from behind through the interlaminar window. The endoscope goes through that channel, and the compressive material is removed under direct visualization.
04 — Recovery
Endoscopic surgery involves minimal scarring and less tissue disruption than traditional open surgery, and many patients are able to return to daily activities sooner. Your own timeline depends on your condition and your general health, and is discussed with you before you decide on treatment.
05 — Conditions treated
- Herniated Disc A condition where the inner gel-like core of a spinal disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer, causing pain and neurological symptoms.
- Lumbar Disc Disease Degeneration or herniation of discs in the lower back, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs due to nerve compression.
- Spinal Stenosis A narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
Timelines and techniques described here are general. Your own plan depends on your anatomy, your imaging and your medical history, and is decided with you at consultation.
