subject: Laser Spine Surgery – What to Expect? [print this page] Laser spine surgery (or particularly endoscopic spinal surgery) is the "gold standard," in accordance with the International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS) and the International Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT), for the surgical cure of back pain, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical disc herniations with radicular symptoms. For these disorders, the treatment of selection is the microsurgical microscopic disc surgery or generally known as microdiscectomy.
Other suggestions for minimally invasive or endoscopic spinal procedures are lateral spinal canal (recess) and foraminal stenoses with radicular (or nerve root) symptoms, and degenerative facet joint cysts with radicular symptoms. When finding out which conditions are responsive to endoscopic spine surgery, imaging techniques are very valuable. These consist of up-to-date MRI and CT scans, particularly those employing fluoroscopy-guided, contrast-enhanced diagnostic injection. Neurophysiologic research may also help in evaluating nerve damage or in uncovering other compressed nerves.
Some of the specified endoscopic spinal surgery advisable limitations in the 2008 Guidelines of ISMISS are...
Clinically relevant instabilities
Central spinal canal stenosis
Some of the essential advisable limitations include things like big disc herniations with caude equina syndrome or a fresh motor deficit. Sufficient decompression may not be achieved unless the interlaminar windows are big and there is decent interlaminar endoscopic entry.
The Necessity for Capable Physicians. Laser spine surgery is not without its complications, even though their likelihood is not as significant when compared with major open surgeries. Same as with major operations, according to spine institute the physician should foresee probable risks with the treatment, such as some bleeding, infection, dural tears and nerve root damage.
Before getting training in endoscopic operations, the ISMISS indicates that surgeons should have enough knowledge in traditional spinal surgery solutions. Necessitating years of personal experience, spine surgery is a very sensitive procedure, whether performed traditionally or using an endoscope. ISMISS has still noted grievous faults in the operative methods of novice specialists in both traditional and endoscopic treatments, like operating on the wrong side or operating on the wrong level, hence not providing any treatment to the patient at all.
Also, even with minimal risks, a doctor should be ready to do major surgery if laser spine surgery is not adequate to cope with the patient's affliction.
