Description

Slip disc is one of the most common conditions of the spine which requires surgical treatment. Ninety percent of the patients of slip discs become alright with medications and exercises. Two percent of them have severe compression and symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, which requires emergency surgery. The rest eight percent of the patients have moderate compression and often require surgery. At present the most minimally invasive method to do slip disc surgery is endoscopic surgery. This surgery involves introduction of a small (6 to 8mm) diameter tube through the muscle to the spine. This tube contains a small camera system and a working channel through which instruments are introduced under the vision of the camera and surgery is accomplished. This surgery causes no collateral damage to the normal structures of the spine and thus the patient is able to walk pain-free immediately after the surgery. Due to minimal collateral damage the early and long term results are excellent. This surgery has basically two approaches depending on the route of introduction of the Endoscopic tube. 1. Interlaminar Endoscopy 2. Transforaminal Endoscopy 1. Interlaminar Endoscopy - In this approach the tube is inserted from posteriorly slightly off the midline, through the muscles and between the two laminae of the spine. 2. Transforaminal Endoscopy - In this approach the tube is inserted from the side of the flank, through the muscles and natural foramina into the spine. Both the approaches have similar results and the surgeon decides which approach is required depending on the disease pattern. For more details you can watch the video on our youtube channel.