Spinal Endoscopic Surgery:
Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) is a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art kind of minimally invasive spine surgery that allows patients to heal faster and have less recurrent pain than traditional spine surgery approaches. ESS also helps you keep your spine’s natural range of motion after surgery. Dr Ammar Anwer is currently offering endoscopic spinal surgery for the following diseases of the spine;
- Prolapsed Lumbosacral disc
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
Lumbosacral Disc Microendoscopic Discectomy (MED):
Micro-endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive ESS that allows a high-definition direct view of the disc and nerves. MED is done to decompress the nerve roots that ruptured intervertebral discs have crushed. Patients with a herniated or compressed lumbar disc who have not achieved optimal pain relief with conservative therapy should consider this procedure. Many people with sciatica, (a very severe painful condition affecting the back, hip and outer side of the leg, caused by the compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back) benefit from this operation.
Procedure:
Endoscopic micro discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure involving a tiny incision. The incision size is typically less than 1 cm. During operation, instead of cutting muscles, a succession of muscle dilators is utilized under X-ray guidance to stretch soft tissue and create a route for the endoscope. Under endoscopic visualization, bone is drilled, and nerve root is accessed. Once in position, the endoscope enables the surgeon to visualize the disc, nerves, and other structures up and personal and securely remove the troublesome disc and free up the nerve roots. Herniated disc that compresses the spinal nerve is removed using this method. Patient requires only 1-2 stitches after the surgery and is back to normal life.
Complications:
This is a safe procedure with a high success rate. The complications (which are rarely encountered) are
- Anaesthesia-related complications.
- Infection
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak
- Nerve root injury
Frequently Asked Questions about Endoscopic Spine Surgery
When it comes to considering Endoscopic Spine Surgery as your back pain solution, you’re likely to have many questions. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive on the procedure and our answers to them. Keep in mind that every person is different and while these answers are generally true, you should always talk face-to-face with a neurosurgeon, like Dr. Ammar Anwer, to determine the best solution for your specific spinal condition as Dr Ammar Anwer tailors his treatment to patient’s needs.
What workup is needed for Endoscopic spine surgery?
You will need routine haematological tests, chest X ray, X Ray spine and MRI of spine.
What is the expected time to recover after Endoscopic spine surgery?
After endoscopic discectomy, the patient is discharged on the same evening and is back to normal life. The stitches are removed 2 weeks after surgery.
How long will it take before I can get back to work and exercise?
While the specific length of your recovery will depend on your surgery, minimally invasive techniques when coupled with consistent physical therapy can reduce the time you spend in recovery.
Will there be a scar from my surgery?
Endoscopic spine surgery requires a neurosurgeon to make a small incision in the back above the location of the affected portion of your spine. This incision will likely leave a scar. However, surgeons can typically work through a space of about 7mm, which is less than half the size of a dime, meaning the scar will be very small.
Will endoscopic spine surgery hurt?
Patients undergoing endoscopic spine surgery will be put under general anaesthesia, meaning that you will not be able to feel pain throughout the course of your surgery. When you wake up, a nurse will typically measure your pain levels and determine if you require any medication to help ease it. Most patients upon waking up from surgery often feel relief from their back pain.
How is endoscopic spine surgery different from open surgery?
Unlike open spine surgery, which requires surgeons to scale or cut through muscles and soft tissue when accessing the spine, in endoscopic spine surgery, neurosurgeons simply need to push the soft tissues aside when traveling down to the affected portion of the spine. This gentle approach is safer and causes far less post-operative pain. Once the endoscope has reached the affected portion of the spine, the neurosurgeon is able to run specialized tools down through the tube and shave, clip or extract the damaged portions of the disc or spine that are pressing up against the nerves. In terms of visualization, the endoscope is second to none. With the high-definition camera and a powerful light source, spinal surgeons are able to see exactly where they’re working and what’s occurring in the back at all times. The endoscopic camera is connected to a monitor that sits in front of the operating surgeon which he watches while performing the procedure. This is, undoubtedly, one of the most technical parts of the operation because the neurosurgeon must work with their hands while watching a screen. Being able to do this with the level of precision required for spine surgery takes years of specialized training.
Does Dr Ammar Anwer accept insurance?
Yes, Dr Ammar Anwer accepts insurance.