Minimally Invasive Disc Surgery with the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System (YESS)

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• The concept linking radicular pain to disc herniation was established by Mixter and Barr in the 1930s using laminectomy and discectomy.
• Traditional open surgical techniques carry risks of spinal canal destabilization and scarring.
• Ongoing research aims to refine surgical approaches for spinal disc conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of surgical techniques for managing conditions like herniated discs.
• To highlight the shift towards less invasive surgical procedures.
• To discuss the benefits of minimally invasive spinal surgery over traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of spinal surgery techniques.
• Analysis of trends in operative efficacy and complication rates.
• Examination of advancements including microdiscectomy and percutaneous procedures.

Main Results:

• Laminectomy and discectomy were foundational but invasive.
• Minimally invasive techniques aim to enhance surgical outcomes.
• Current trends favor microdiscectomy and percutaneous approaches to reduce postoperative complications.

Conclusions:

• The field of spinal surgery has progressively moved towards less invasive procedures.
• Microdiscectomy and percutaneous techniques represent significant advancements.
• Minimally invasive spinal surgery offers potential benefits in efficacy and safety.