According to doctors with the renowned Mayo Clinic, endoscopic surgery represents “the next enhancement of minimally invasive spine surgery.” The endoscopic approach represents a change from traditional open surgery.
As one of the leading spine surgeons in the Southern California area, Sanjay Khurana, MD, uses conservative, non-invasive treatment techniques whenever possible to sidestep surgery; however, when your condition requires surgery, Dr. Khurana first turns to endoscopy as his procedure of choice.
We believe you may agree as you learn the benefits that endoscopic surgery offers. Let’s look at five ways endoscopy makes your surgical experience safer and more comfortable.
Sometimes referred to as ultra minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic techniques reduce your time in surgery and prevent cutting through layers of tissue, including skin and muscle, while avoiding blood vessels and nerves, which is necessary in open surgery since your doctor must see the parts of the spine to make the needed repairs. Endoscopy is based around the endoscope, a tool that uses fiber optics and video cameras that enable your provider to visualize the inside of your spine without disturbing surrounding tissue.
Endoscopic cameras and tools require tiny incisions. There’s no need for long cuts through healthy muscle and the impact on your body gets reduced. Given the small size of your incisions, healing is fast and easy, and greatly reduces the chances of scarring. Even if scars form, they will be a half-inch or less and likely unnoticeable.
Smaller incisions hurt less than big ones. That’s obvious. When you also consider the underlying muscle tissue that’s not cut during endoscopic surgery, it’s easy to see how this approach can’t create the same level of pain that open surgery can. It’s more likely that you can manage pain with over-the-counter medications, and there’s usually no need for overnight hospital stays.
Open surgery exposes the inside of your body to air. While operating rooms are as clean and sterile as possible, large wounds always elevate the risk of infection. Endoscopic entry incisions are small and controlled. It’s easier to protect a tiny wound; infections and their associated complications are less common. The risk of bleeding-related complications is small, too.
With the large incisions of open surgery, much of your recovery focuses on the wound, stitches, and healing. Spine surgery may mean limited mobility as the larger wound heals. Endoscopic surgery reduces these concerns over and above the improved range of motion your procedure may offer.
Learn more about the advantages of endoscopic surgery for your condition in consultation with Dr. Khurana. You can book an appointment online or by phone at the most convenient office in Marina Del Rey or Manhattan Beach, California. Schedule your visit today.
