Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery

Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery is a viable option for many presently considering Open Back surgery. Diagnoses such as Spinal Stenosis, Sciatica, Herniated or Bulging Discs, Spinal Arthritis, Bone Spurs and others are treatable with Endoscopic surgery. However, not everyone is a candidate for Endoscopic Laser Surgery and one must consult with their physician first to determine if they are. Once that determination has been made, one need only compare the many advantages Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery has over Open Back Surgery.

Incisions for Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery

In Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery, the surgeon makes a few tiny incisions, as opposed to the single larger, 6 inch, incision, required in Open Back. A thin, flexible plastic tube, called an Endoscope , is inserted through these tiny incisions and allows the surgeon to visualize the interior cavity with its attached camera and light. In Open Back, the surgeon has this view because the cavity is exposed directly. In Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery the Endoscope acts as the eyes of the surgeon and enables the same procedure to be performed without actually exposing the cavity.

Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery is Less Risk

What this means to an Endoscopic Laser Surgery patient is less surgical risk. In Open Back Surgery the surgeon cuts not only through the skin of the back, but also tissue and muscle, which must then be stitched shut once the surgery is complete. In Endoscopic surgery, a tube, called a portal, is inserted through through the small incisions. This portal pushes muscle aside, and acts as a guide that the surgeon uses to pass surgical instruments through to perform the surgery. This absence of cutting means far less risk of bleeding during surgery and greatly decreased scarring afterward. Once the Endoscopic Laser Surgery is completed, the surgical instruments are withdrawn via the portal and the muscles just fall back into their natural position.

Endoscopic Laser Spine Surgery & Recovery Time

There is minimal recovery time with Endoscopic Laser Surgery. Many surgeons perform endoscopic surgery as an outpatient procedure, and have their patients then have any post-op therapy completed as an outpatient. In Open Back, one can expect a lengthy hospitalization , and even longer recovery period. It takes an average of a year for those who have had Open Back surgery to recover, despite longer involvement in therapy. With Endoscopic Laser Surgery one's greatest advantage is that they can more quickly be relieved of their back pain and return to an active lifestyle!