Advantages of Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spinal surgery has revolutionized the surgical treatment of sciatica, disc prolapse, canal stenosis. Minimal Access Spine Surgery has become a boon to patients suffering from these problems, who dread a spinal surgery due to the fear of postoperative pain, rehabilitation and risk of general anesthesia.

The spinal cord is a delicate fluid filled long tube with multiple nerves coursing through it like tendrils. The above-mentioned diseases cause pressure on the bag or the nerve roots giving rise to pain, tingling, numbness and even weakness in the lower limbs. Left neglected it can lead to permanent weakness of the leg, foot, or urinary system. The vertebra encloses delicate structures within it, protecting the vital cord & nerve from injury.

To remove the pressure on the nerves and the cord it is imperative to remove the prolapsed disc, thickened ligaments or the bony growths.

In Standard Laminectomy surgeries the whole posterior part of 1 & 2 vertebrae would be excised, so as to access the diseased part. This procedure does relieve the patient of his symptoms but due to the excision of the lamina & Interspinous ligament it predisposes the patient to developing spinal instability & Postoperative adhesions. Laminectomy has a high incidence of repeat surgeries and also the postoperative recovery is prolonged (1 – 3 days).

With endoscopic Spine surgery we achieve the same end result through a keyhole-sized portal. This is a short surgery lasting 30 to 45 minutes & can even be done under local anesthesia in certain individuals. The duration of hospital stay is 1 – 2 days and patients can return to normal work within a week. This procedure not only requires specialized equipment but also surgical expertise.

In Endoscopic surgery the surgeon uses specialized video cameras and instruments which are passed through small incisions (less than 2 cm) into the chest, abdominal or joint cavities to perform surgery.

For Certain Spinal cases and cases of degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal column tumors, infection, fractures and herniated discs, Minimum Access Endoscopic Spinal Surgeries techniques has helped in speed recovery, has succeeded in minimizing post-operative pain and improve the final outcome of the patient.

Selective Endoscopic Discectomy (SED) utilizing the Yeung Endoscopic Spine Surgery™ (YESS) system requires an incision size of less than one half inch, yet does not compromise the versatility of the surgery.

SED utilizing the YESS™ system does not require the cutting or retraction of bony,or vascular elements of the posterior spine. Selective Endoscopic Discectomy bypasses these important anatomical obstacles by the surgical site via a cannula (tube) system utilizing a posterolateral approach (ten to fifteen cm [4-7 inches] off midline).

As a commitment towards improving the quality of life by enhancing the level of medicare, we at Wockhardt Hospitals, continuously strive to make the best use of cutting edge Medical Technology. The YESS system is being used in India for the first time at Wockhardt Bone and Joint Hospital, Hyderabad. With the help of YESS apparatus, Endoscopic spine surgeries can be carried out under local anesthesia and the postoperative stay of the patient is reduced to only a few hours..

DR. RAMESH CHANDRA KATRAGADDA
DNB(Ortho), MS (Ortho)
Consultant Orthopedic,
Joint Replacement & Spine Surgery
Kamineni Wockhardt Hospitals. (Hyderabad)