Fully endoscopic lumbar spinal surgery: Is it time to change?

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Spinal surgery is advancing towards safer, less invasive techniques.
• Optical and instrument technology improvements are key drivers.
• Endoscopic approaches offer comparable decompression to open surgery with reduced trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of endoscopic approaches in lumbar decompressive surgery.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive spinal procedures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of endoscopic lumbar decompressive surgery.
• Comparative analysis of endoscopic versus open surgical techniques.
• Examination of technological advancements in endoscopic spinal instrumentation.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic techniques achieve decompression comparable to open surgery.
• Minimally invasive endoscopic approaches result in significantly less tissue trauma.
• Technological progress enables wider application of endoscopic spinal surgery.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic approaches represent a significant advancement in lumbar decompressive surgery.
• The benefits include comparable efficacy and reduced patient trauma.
• Further research and technological innovation will continue to enhance these techniques.