Arthroscopic surgery is a type of laser treatment for spinal disorders. It is minimally invasive, which cuts down on bleeding and other trauma, and it requires only local anesthesia. This surgery involves the use of fiber-optic instruments to examine the damaged area of the spine. It is an outpatient procedure, with minimal incisions.
Procedure
Arthroscopic surgery begins with a small incision, through which a small tube will enter. Additional tubes will enter through this incision, each being larger than the previous one, with the last tube having a diameter of 18 mm. The surgeon removes the other tubes once the last one is in place. The gradual enlargement of the tubes will allow for the skin and muscles to dilate with minimal trauma. The operation takes place via the remaining tube, through which the surgeon inserts a fiber-optic camera and lasers to perform the procedure.
Types
There are four main types of arthroscopic surgery for the spine. The first is foraminotomy, which is treatment for foraminal stenosis, nerve-root compression, sciatica, herniated discs, spinal arthritis, scar tissue, bone spurs, and pinched nerves. Foraminotomy involves removal of bone and tissue compressing the root of a spinal nerve.
The second type is laminotomy, which is for the treatment of herniated discs, spinal arthritis, spinal stenosis, bone spurs, scar tissue and pinched nerves and for removal of the ligamentum flavum, which is the largest ligament of the spine. This surgery removes a section of the lamina, a bony plate that covers the spinal canal and nerves on each vertebra. The objective is to decrease pressure on the nerves by creating more space around the roots of nerves and the spinal cord.
The third type is percutaneous arthroscopic discectomy, which is treatment for bulging or herniated discs. This procedure involves removal of the bulging or herniated disc to relieve compression of nerve roots and the spine. A laser will vaporize the affected disc.
The fourth type is facet thermal ablation, which is treatment for facet disease, facet arthritis, facet degeneration, facet hypertrophy and facet joint syndrome. The surgery deadens the pain-causing nerve.
Benefits
Traditional open-back spinal surgery, which is rarely performed anymore, involves major cutting, so it is highly invasive and trauma-inducing. Arthroscopic surgery is a much more streamlined type of treatment for spinal nerve disorders that allows for relatively gentle handling of the skin and tissue in the affected area. The incision is small, so it barely leaves a trace during recovery, and the recovery itself is faster and easier than the one associated with traditional spine surgery. Arthroscopic surgery also only takes 45 minutes on average.
Considerations
Before undergoing surgery, you should speak with your doctor about any aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication or blood thinners that you take because these could affect how you handle the surgery.
Success Rate
The Bonati Institute of Hudson, Florida reports an immediate success rate of 90 percent for arthroscopic spinal surgery. The success rate for maintained effectiveness of the treatment is more than 90 percent over a three-month, six-month and one-year period after surgery. These success rates include patients who have had previously failed open-back surgery.
Tags: which treatment, herniated discs, Arthroscopic surgery, Arthroscopic surgery, bone spurs