Endoscopic spine surgery for herniated discs
Herniated discs are quite common and can seriously disable the patient, causing chronic pain and decreased mobility.
However, and despite the fact that the only definitive treatment is surgery to repair the damage to the problematic intervertebral disc, new and better ways of addressing it surgically have emerged, with minimal consequences, as with endoscopic surgery.
What is endoscopic surgery for herniated discs?
This minimally invasive technique is the best alternative to traditional disc herniation surgery, known as microdiscectomy, which requires large incisions.
The main advantage of endoscopic spine surgery is that it minimizes manipulation of the delicate tissues of the back, thereby minimizing postoperative pain and associated risks (such as bleeding or infection).
This way, patients with a herniated disc can feel confident that their problem will be resolved quickly and with only local anesthesia, allowing them to return home quickly to continue their recovery and, best of all, to relieve their pain.
¿Por qué ocurren las hernias de disco y en que casos se recomienda la cirugía endoscópica?
Intervertebral discs are thick cartilage cushions that separate one vertebra from another, allowing spinal mobility and cushioning pressure changes while we walk, run, or simply sit. However, occasionally the tissue that makes up the annulus fibrosus (the outer part of each intervertebral disc) can degenerate and become fragile. If a sudden movement occurs, the annulus ruptures, exposing part of the pulpy contents (the jelly-like inner part of the disc), which then moves into the spinal canal or nerve roots. This causes pain and can affect nerve function (mobility and sensation).
The endoscopic approach to disc surgery has shown excellent results in the following types of hernias:
- Foraminal disc herniation.
- Peripheral disc herniation to the foramen (or extraforaminal, one of the most frequent).
- Hernia discal posterior o lateral.
This surgical technique has been useful not only for herniated discs but also for other spinal problems such as spinal canal stenosis, a condition in which the central canal of the spinal cord narrows, causing compression, chronic pain, and loss of sensation and joint mobility.
If the herniated disc is accompanied by calcified processes or spondylolisthesis (less common), spinal surgery will probably have to be open or conventional.
What is endoscopic surgery for herniated discs?
It is performed with a pair of small incisions (5 to 8 mm) in the skin of the back, at the level of the problem. A small cannula with a camera on its end (to view internal structures) and surgical instruments are inserted. Through these, the surgeon will assess the extent of the problem and repair the defect (i.e., remove part of the tissue compressing the spinal cord and close the opening in the annulus fibrosus).
Once finished, the surgeon closes the small incisions in the skin with sutures, and the patient can resume resting.
Advantages of endoscopic spine surgery
Since tissue manipulation is minimal, the advantages are greater, including:
- Reduction of postoperative pain.
- Lower risk of bleeding.
- Lower risk of infections.
- Short recovery time and quick return to activities.
- Without the use of general anesthesia.
- Sin cicatrices en la espalda.
- Medical discharge can occur within the first 24 hours after surgery, and full recovery can take 6 to 12 weeks.
Other surgical options for herniated discs
It's important to understand that the endoscopic approach to treating herniated discs is just one variation of the reliable nucleotomy technique we offer at our medical center.
Nucleotomy differs from endoscopic surgery because it doesn't use video cannulas. However, the results can be very similar, with the advantage of remaining a minimally invasive technique. It is just as safe and offers the same results as endoscopic surgery.
In addition to nucleotomy, we have a somewhat more conventional but useful, safe, and up-to-date technique known as "percutaneous disc removal" or percutaneous disc surgery for repairing herniated discs in both the lumbar region (where they are most common) and the cervical region.
Percutaneous removal is a minimally invasive technique that does not require open surgery, unlike the previous ones, but with the advantage that it takes very little time (about 30 minutes or less) and the patient can return home the same day.
But why is this last one so special? Precisely because of its minimal tissue invasiveness, maximum patient safety, and speed (not only in terms of its performance but also in terms of the patient's perception of improvement).
It is important to emphasize that NOT all hernias can be treated with this technique; however, there is a wide range of possibilities for patients. It is the spine specialist who will evaluate each case individually to decide which intervention is most appropriate for each patient.
Recuerda que esta información está hecha con fines de divulgación y que sólo un especialista en columna vertebral, indicará cual es el tratamiento oportuno para tu problema de columna vertebral.
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