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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Full-Endoscopic Isolation Zone Technique for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation
Published on: April 7, 2023
A Novel, Minimally Invasive Hybrid Technique to Approach Intracanal Herniated Thoracic Discs
Javier Quillo-Olvera1, Jin-Sung Kim2
1The Brain and Spine Care, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Center Hospital Tec 100 H+, Hospital Star Medica, Quereta, Queretaro City, Mexico.
Background:
Multiple options exist for thoracic disc herniation (TDH). However, when a specific technique is chosen, the goal is to avoid the manipulation of the spinal cord, which is already compressed.
Objective:
To describe a hybrid endoscopic technique for intracanal TDH by combining an oblique paraspinal approach (OPA) and transforaminal full-endoscopic discectomy.
Methods:
We describe the step-by-step operative technique and present the clinical and radiological outcomes of a case series of hybrid endoscopic thoracic discectomy.
Results:
A total of 3 patients were treated. We observed the usefulness of an OPA to enlarge the intervertebral foramen through the rigid tubular retractor and the feasibility of a full-endoscopic transforaminal approach to reach intracanal TDHs.
Conclusion:
Early experience with the hybrid endoscopic technique for TDHs demonstrated acceptable clinical and radiological outcomes in the 3 patients treated; however, a larger sample size and a methodologically advantageous study to compare this procedure with conventional options are necessary to probe the full benefits of the hybrid technique.
