American Spine Now Offers Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy

FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 25, 2012, orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Said Osman, performed percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy (CED) at American Spine Center, for herniated cervical spine disc, and thus avoided the more invasive open cervical decompression and fusion. A percutaneous cervical endoscopic discectomy procedure is often performed in an outpatient or day surgery facility. Endoscopic surgery of the spine, is a minimally invasive technique commonly used for such surgery in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine.

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Often, herniated discs occur as the result of an injury or old age, and people in their 30s and 40s are at the greatest risk. If herniated discs don't respond to conservative treatment, such as physical therapy, epidurals and pain-relieving drugs after eight to 12 weeks, undergoing the endoscopic surgery is an option.

Traditionally, surgical treatment involves discectomy and fusion through an incision at the front of the neck, or foraminotomy with or without fusion through back of the neck, to correct disc herniation.

An endoscopic approach enables the surgeon to perform the surgery through a quarter-inch incision. The endoscope is a device with light source to which a video camera is attached, and inserted into the disc through a thin metal tube. The image obtained by the video-camera is viewed on a screen, magnified several times the actual size of the structure being visualized. Small movements and corrections of the endoscope are monitored in the surgical suite through a C-arm and or endoscopic vision technologies. Special medical tools designed for minimally invasive surgical procedures allow the surgeon to repair or remove the disc herniation either mechanically, radio-frequency or with a laser with reduced risk of surrounding tissue damage. Following removal of the damaged vertebral pieces or disc, the area is then irrigated for improved healing. Endoscopic discectomy procedure avoids fusion, hence, maintains motion at the operated level. This is in contradistinction to traditional decompression and fusion, which causes stiffness of the operated disc and thereby increasing stress on the adjacent discs with possibility of accelerated wear and tear of neighboring discs. After endoscopically visualizing the damaged disc, Dr. Osman utilizes various tools including manual graspers, radio-frequency, or vaporize a small bulge with a laser. Unlike open surgery, the endoscopic discectomy often can be performed in less than an hour, on outpatient basis. A week after CED, patients are expected to resume normal activities.

Dr. Osman says, "at the current state of technology, endoscopic cervical discectomy is best suited for patients experiencing predominantly arm pain and weakness secondary to pinched nerve resulting from herniated cervical disc. However, those experiencing moderate to severe neck pain and arm pain, and those patients with spinal cord compression are best treated with traditional open surgery."

For the right patients with particular findings on their MRI studies, minimally invasive options allow American Spine physicians to take care of the problem and get patients back to their activities more rapidly than with conventional surgical procedures.

To visit American Spine center, please log into www.americanspinemd.com or call (240) 629-3939.

SOURCE American Spine