Endoscopic Fusion
The spine is a very delicate part of the body and surgeons are performing many spinal surgeries everyday. Technology breakthroughs in surgical techniques have transformed the way spinal surgery is being performed. One popular procedure your Tower Orthopedics specialist may use is known as an endoscopic fusion. An endoscopic fusion is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of specialized surgical instruments to insert bone replacement material or implants replacing diseased intervertebral discs. The bone replacement is secured by specialized screws and rods to initialize the fusion process.
To further understand the concept of an endoscopic fusion, a small description of the spine’s anatomy is necessary. Some duties of the spine are to maintain your body’s structure, protect the nervous system, and absorb the pressure from movement. In order to fulfill its duties, the entire structure of the spine must be sound. The spine is separated into three main regions: The upper spine or cervical spine is the neck region; the thoracic spine is the middle back region; the lumbar is the lower region. The bones that make up the spine are called vertebrae(See Spine Anatomy 1
).Between each vertebra are gel-like discs called intervertebral discs (See Spine Anatomy 2
). Strong ligaments hold the vertebrae together like rubber bands. Muscles, joints and nerves run up and down the spine giving it flexibility and strength.
Excessive strain, trauma, or age may cause an intervertabral discs to rupture. A disc rupture (herniated disc) disrupts the natural hydraulic effect that the disc normally provides. Unable to support the weight of the body, the space between the vertebrae narrows as do the pathways that the nerves run through (foreman). This causes a pinching of the nerves usually producing pain in the back or legs. The joints that keep each vertebra in the spine from rubbing together are called facet joints. Over time, the facet joints may become arthritic and loose their cartilage which then causes vertebrae to slide on one another even adding more pressure to the nerves.
Tower Orthopaedics specialists can diagnose spinal conditions by using an MRI scan. An MRI scan is an imaging system where radio waves and strong magnetic fields provide detailed information about internal organs.
Pending diagnosis, an endoscopic spinal fusion may be an elected procedure by your surgeon. This goal of this procedure is to relieve pain and stabilize the spine. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, followed by a small well positioned incision into the affected area. A magnified video system provides guidance for a small endoscopic probe that is inserted between the vertebrae and into the diseased disc (See Endoscope
).Small surgical instruments are sent through the probe to remove portions of the offending disc (discectomy) relieving pressure on the spinal nerve. Once the disc is removed, a bone graft or implant device may be inserted to commence the fusion process. Screws and a rod are placed between the altered disc securing the bone replacement (See Screws
,and Endoscopic view
).The endoscope is then removed followed by stitching of the small incision.
Pain relief occurs instantly after surgery due to the released pressure on the spinal nerve; however, some movement may feel awkward until the bone heals and the fusion process is complete.
