Anyone who has visited a doctor or dentist over an extended period of time has no doubt noticed a tremendous number of technological advances at the primary care level. For instance, medical imaging has become incredibly advanced with the introduction of digital and high definition technology. And as marked as advances have been on the everyday level of healthcare, advances have been even more remarkable in the realm of specialization and surgery. One particularly interesting example of this is the ever-increasing use of endoscopic techniques in spine surgery.

Started with Knees and Other Joints

In the 1970s and 1980s, arthroscopic knee surgery gradually evolved from a rarely used treatment to almost routine, especially in the realm of professional sports. The effects of medical advances are particularly impactful in sports, where a torn knee ligament used to be a career-ending injury. These days, a football player can tear an anterior cruciate ligament in the first week of training camp, undergo arthroscopic surgery and rehab in mid-July, and possibly return to the field in time for the second half of the season. At worst, a football player can anticipate a full recovery in time for the following season.

The miniaturization of surgical tools has been transferred almost seamlessly to the world of spine surgery. Orthopedic specialists conducted thorough research into the potential uses of tiny surgical tools, and they found that the same techniques used to repair torn ligaments in knees and other joints can be used to alleviate pain and other symptoms caused by spinal nerve compression.

How Endoscopic Techniques are Used on the Spine

An endoscope is a tiny camera that is threaded through a small tube that has been inserted through an incision that is usually less than one inch along the surface of the skin. Using this tiny camera allows a surgeon to see and access a source of spinal nerve compression without cutting deep into the body through soft tissue and bone. Other surgical tools are also threaded through the small tube, and the orthopedic surgeon is able to remove the source of painful symptoms using a form of microsurgery.

What Conditions are Treated Using Endoscopic Techniques?

Spinal nerve compression can be caused by a number of degenerative spine conditions, including bone spurs, herniated discs, bulging discs, hardened ligaments, and others. Not every patient suffering from these conditions is a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure using advanced, endoscopic techniques. In fact, most patients who suffer debilitating pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness related to spinal nerve compression can manage those symptoms using nonsurgical, conservative treatment methods. However, if some still experience pain and other symptoms after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, surgery might become an option.

Advantages of Endoscopic Spine Surgery

If spine surgery becomes an option, no one should consent to a traditional operation without first asking about the potential benefits of a minimally invasive procedure using endoscopic techniques. Traditional spine surgery is performed as an open back or neck procedure, with a large incision, an overnight hospital stay, and a long, arduous period of recuperation and recovery. Recent technological advances in spine surgery make it possible for a patient to be treated on an outpatient basis, with far less risk of internal bleeding, scarring, and other side effects often associated with open back surgery.

In addition, the rehabilitation process is typically far shorter and less grueling after a minimally invasive procedure. Keep in mind that no one should consent to surgery of any kind before seeking at second – and possibly a third – medical opinion.

Peg Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative medical technology.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. She is available to discuss innovative medical technology. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/laser-spine-institute-partners-with-marodyne-medical-to-offer-the-latest-in-low-intensity-vibration-science-2013-02-19

Author Bio: Peg Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative medical technology.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: Innovative medical technology