Currently, herniated disc disease compressing the spinal nerve is one of the diseases with a rapidly increasing number of patients due to the lifestyle of people nowadays who tend to work hard, sitting in front of computers for long periods with improper posture, increasing the risk of this disease. Coupled with the degeneration of the discs due to aging, the only way to completely relieve the pain is “surgery.” However, since surgery carries many risks, the medical field has been striving to develop surgical techniques to be more efficient, less risky, and to help patients recover faster and heal quicker. Currently, the spinal surgery method considered effective and chosen by doctors is endoscopic spinal surgery. But how good is this surgery, and how does it differ from traditional surgery? Today, we will help you understand more to provide information for decision-making if you or someone you love needs spinal treatment.
What is an ENDOSCOPE?
An endoscope is a type of camera used in surgery. The highlight of the endoscope is its size, which is smaller than a human finger, allowing it to be easily inserted into the body. This enables precise and clear visualization of the affected area or disease location. Importantly, due to the small size of the endoscope, there is no need to make a large incision, minimizing trauma during treatment.
What are the steps of endoscopic spinal surgery?
In endoscopic spinal surgery, the doctor treats by inserting the endoscope into the body through a small surgical incision of about 1 cm. At the tip of the endoscope is a lens that projects images of the internal organs for the doctor to see. This differs from traditional surgery, which requires a large incision to clearly expose the disease site, causing more trauma to other muscles. Once the doctor locates the disease site with the endoscope, small surgical instruments are inserted to perform the surgery using minimally invasive spine surgery techniques to treat the abnormality in the patient.
What are the advantages of endoscopic spinal surgery?
Overall, endoscopic spinal surgery has the following advantages over traditional spinal surgery:
- Safer, because with endoscopic surgical technology performed by specialists, details can be seen clearly, increasing treatment accuracy and reducing the risk of errors.
- Smaller incision, with a surgical wound about 1 cm in size, unlike traditional surgery which requires a large incision, giving patients more confidence and less worry about the surgical wound.
- Less pain, due to the smaller incision, resulting in less impact on tissues and internal organs, making post-surgery pain much less than traditional surgery.
- Faster recovery, as the small incision reduces the risk of infection as a surgical complication, allowing for quicker recovery time.
- More cost-effective, because faster recovery reduces hospital stay duration and saves treatment costs.
- Quicker return home, reducing loss of income opportunities, enabling patients to heal faster and return to work and normal life happily sooner.
Which spinal diseases can be treated with endoscopic surgery?
- Herniated disc compressing the spinal nerve
- Spinal canal stenosis compressing the spinal nerve
Currently, many people still have considerable concerns about surgery. However, with small incision techniques, specialized medical expertise, and endoscopic surgical technology, surgery is now safer, less risky, and is an option that helps patients recover and return to normal life. Therefore, if you notice “severe back pain radiating down the leg” or symptoms of numbness and weakness, you should promptly see a doctor for diagnosis, as you may be suffering from a spinal disease.
Spinal surgery is no longer scary because it can be quickly and effectively treated with small incision endoscopic surgery.
