Endoscopic Spinal Surgery

About Endoscopic Spinal Surgery

MicroSpine is dedicated to the research and treatment of spinal disorders by utilizing MicroSpine surgery (Also referred to as Minimally Invasive or Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery). We can resolve most spinal disorders through a hole the size of your small finger (1/4 to 1/2 of an inch)⁴. Our staff employs Cutting Edge Technology to resolve the most troublesome spinal problems. If most surgeons tell you that they can't help you, then we probably can.

Since our surgeries are minimally invasive, the amount of recovery time is less, the amount of scarring is less, and the post operative pain is less. In fact, 99.9% of our patients will be up and walking the same day as the surgery.

Some call it a miracle, but it simply is the advancement of spinal surgery to the next degree. Just as with shoulder and knee surgeries that once required large incisions and long recovery times, these surgeries are now done on an outpatient basis. So it only employs common sense to utilize these less invasive endoscopic surgical techniques to the spine.

Many surgeons claim they can perform similar procedures, but they do not. These surgeons will tell you they could perform such a surgery but it wouldn't help you and thus they'll offer you a fusion or a larger incision. In reality, only a small handful of surgeons in the world perform these MicroSpine procedures¹ and our physicians have personally performed thousands of them³.

Our location is not in a big city and we are not owned by a large corporation but this allows our staff to focus on spinal surgery and research and not to be burdened by business and hospital politics. We are the only facility in the World dedicated to every aspect of minimally invasive spinal surgery. Yes, we are busy and you may have a short wait for surgery but good surgeons are busy. Be cautious of the surgeon who can get you in right way since there is probably a reason for their lack of patients. We design and manufacture our own tools and develop our own techniques, and we constantly monitor the literature to keep up to date on every aspect of evolving spine care. If it is cutting edge, then we probably do it. We have a complete staff of researchers and we have been regularly publicizing our data on our revolutionary techniques ².

So before you have any spinal surgery make sure you get all the facts about your options. Our staff will gladly review your MRI information and give you a free preliminary idea of what we believe we can offer you.

MicroSpine is capable of performing almost any spinal surgery procedure via an endoscopic approach, we can endoscopically perform:

- Foraminotomy
- Forminoplasty
- Laminotomy
- Discectomy
- Vertebroplasty
- Facetectomy
- Facet Joint Surgery
- Corpectomy
- Spinal Fusion Alternatives
- Laminoforaminoplasty
- Endoscopic Hardware Removal
- Thoracic Discectomy
- Ligament Injury Surgery
- Sacroiliac Joint Surgery

Laser Precision
Soft tissue and muscles are spread - not torn or cut - to expose the problem area. A 4,000-degree laser vaporizes soft tissues, such as herniated discs, that are compressing nerves and causing pain. We burr through calcifications and bone spurs to free up nerves that have been compressed due to spinal stenosis. We can remove small amounts of disc, bone or scar tissue impinging on the spinal cord - all done endoscopically.

Minimal Incision
The incision is 3/4" or less. We insert a small dilator into the incision, and through that working orifice we utilize cutting tools, drills, lasers and other equipment to resolve even the most difficult problems.

Positional Pain
Many experience pain only when they twist their neck or move into some specific position. In twilight sleep, patients can move into that position and adjust to make sure the pain is pinpointed and completely gone before surgery is complete. Being awake helps to prevent nerve injury during the surgery.

Hardware Removal
Occasionally, prior hardware is either causing pain or pinching nerves and in those cases, removal of the hardware may be required. This sometimes may involve an incision of 3/4" or more.

Twilight Sleep
Surgery is performed under conscious sedation, or "twilight sleep." The patient is awake enough to respond and tell us when relief is felt. Anesthesia is administered and monitored by our anesthesia personnel during the entire procedure.

Shorter Recovery
Because soft tissue and muscles are spread instead of severed, there is no need for bed rest. Most patients walk from the recovery room an hour after surgery. During the in-center recovery period, you will be surrounded by nurses who monitor your vital signs and provide medication. Little, if any, post-operative medication is required. You can return to work within two weeks, and live without restriction in less than six weeks.

What We Don't Do
We have found that hardware is not necessary for 97% of all back pain sufferers. We won't do a fusion when your problem can be treated with endoscopic techniques. Success rates exceed that of conventional spinal surgeries - with less cost, less trauma to the body, less scarring and a much shorter recovery time.