Reducing tissue damage, postoperative discomfort, and trauma is critical to maximizing any patient’s recovery from back surgery. Over time, people have witnessed significant advancements in spine surgery technologies, apparatus, instrumentation, and techniques. The most prominent illustration of how far surgery has progressed in treating patients with back and neck discomfort is Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ESS). In this article, you can find below a comprehensive guide on ESS to learn more about it. Continue to read.
What Is Endoscopic Spine Surgery?
ESS is a surgical method that uses tiny tubular systems, micro-sized openings (less than an inch), and an endoscope to view the operating region. Although endoscopic surgical techniques are frequently used to address other body parts (such as the gastrointestinal system), improvements in optics, tissue visualization, and spinal imaging have made ESS a surgical intervention option for many patients.
Endoscopic spinal surgery is a cutting-edge approach to minimally invasive spinal surgery created to give the patient a faster recovery period and less chronic pain than standard spine surgery techniques. Additionally, it can aid in maintaining the spine’s normal range of motion after surgery.
To Distinguish ESS From Other Forms Of Spine Surgery
Traditional techniques, including micro-invasive, minimally invasive, or laser spine operations, are separate from ESS. The procedure is carried out differently in the skilled hands of a spine surgeon who routinely performs endoscopic spinal surgery employing tubular retractors and the endoscope, providing patients with a variety of possible advantages, such as:
- There is no need to cut through soft tissues while using tubular retractors.
- Less bleeding
- Less pain or discomfort following surgery
- Rapid healing and recovery
All indications for spine surgery, such as curvature, spinal instability, malignancy, or trauma, may not be suitable for ESS. The surgeon may advise a conventional open and minimally invasive spinal treatment.
Benefits Of ESS
There are always advantages to having surgery, just like with any surgical treatment, including ESS. You and the spine surgeon discuss any personal advantages to treating your spinal disease with endoscopic spinal surgery.
Potential Advantages
Less stress on the skin, muscles, and soft tissues leads to more minor wounds and hyper-targeting of the operative wound, which reduces blood loss and speeds up healing. Most ESS treatments can also be finished within an hour, allowing patients to resume normal activities after a short period of postoperative recovery.
Do You Qualify For ESS?
Numerous people who qualify for endoscopic spinal surgery have been identified as having common spinal diseases. Facet arthropathy, sciatica, mild to severe disc displacement, and spinal stenosis are a few of these diagnoses. But spinal surgery isn’t always the first course of action. It is typically advised to try non-surgical treatment options, such as spinal injections and physical therapy, before undergoing any surgical treatment, including ESS.
Where Can You Find ESS Surgeons?
Finding a certain kind of spine professional in your area is a challenging endeavor. However, a brilliant place to start is with your healthcare professionals, frequently beginning with your primary physician. Before considering spine surgery, they were likely to have treated you non-surgically and were aware of your medical history. It is always a good idea to confirm that your spine surgeon consistently performs the surgical technique you have advised, is board-qualified and residency trained, and both.
Conclusion
Endoscopic Spine Surgery is a type of spine surgery made possible by technological and technological developments. A younger generation of patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain may find relief from the potential advantages of this extreme kind of minimally invasive procedure in the hands of a highly trained and skilled spine surgeon.