Endoscopic Spine Surgery Featuring Dr. John Spallino, MD

Many patients suffering from back and neck pain may not be fully aware of all available options.  Reflecting on my own experience, I did not know much about minimally invasive spine surgery until I was introduced to Dr. St. Louis.  So, I thought it would be a good idea to share an article that was featured in this month's issue of our monthly newsletter, The Spinal Column.  In this article, Dr. John Spallino discusses how endoscopic spine surgery has evolved, much like arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery.  I hope you will find the article below helpful.


Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Endoscopic surgery refers to the use of specialized video cameras and instruments, which are passed through small incisions into the chest, abdominal or joint cavities to perform surgery. There is a threefold benefit of endoscopic spine surgery. The actual sizes of the surgical incisions are smaller, which leads to less pain and less damage to the surrounding tissues, so the recovery from surgery is much quicker.

Endoscopic techniques have been used for several decades, but these were exclusively for diagnostic purposes. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, endoscopic techniques were advanced, so that both a diagnosis could be made and the condition could be treated. These techniques have now been advanced to the treatment of spinal conditions including: herniated or bulging discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, and facet disease.

By using special scopes, instruments and even a laser, Laser Spine Institute's surgeons have been able to successfully treat spinal conditions with minimal injury to surrounding healthy tissue and muscle.  Therefore, what once required 3 to 6 months of recovery now requires three to six weeks. As with the surgical treatment of other medical conditions affecting gallbladder, knee, or shoulder, operations performed traditionally through large incisions are being performed less frequently, while the endoscopic approach is becoming the standard of care due to its overwhelming benefits.

Dr. John Spallino is a Medical Information Specialist at Laser Spine Institute. In this capacity, he facilitates patient education by conducting nationwide informational seminars, in addition to interpreting and analyzing radiographic imaging. To learn more about Dr. Spallino, click here.