RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Difficulties, Challenges, and the Learning Curve of Avoiding Complications in Lumbar Endoscopic Spine Surgery
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP S21
OP S37
DO 10.14444/8161
VO 15
IS suppl 3
A1 Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
A1 Albert E. Telfeian
A1 Stefan Hellinger
A1 Jorge Felipe Ramírez León
A1 Paulo Sérgio Teixeira de Carvalho
A1 Max R.F. Ramos
A1 Hyeun Sung Kim
A1 Daniel W. Hanson
A1 Nimar Salari
A1 Anthony Yeung
YR 2021
UL http://ijssurgery.com//content/15/suppl_3/S21.abstract
AB Spinal endoscopy has the stigma of being reserved for only a few surgeons who can figure out how to master the steep learning curve and develop clinical practice settings where endoscopic spine surgery can thrive. In essence, endoscopic treatment of herniated discs specifically and nerve root compression in the lumbar spine in general amounts to replacing traditional open spine surgery protocols with spinal endoscopic surgery techniques. In doing so, the endoscopic spine surgeon must be confident that the degenerative spine's common painful problems can be handled with endoscopic spinal surgery techniques with at least comparable clinical results and complication rates. In this review article, the authors illustrate the difficulties and challenges of the endoscopic lumbar decompression procedure. In addition, they shed light on how to master the learning curve by systematically looking at all sides of the problem, ranging from the ergonomic aspects of the endoscopic platform and its instruments, surgical access planning, challenging clinical scenarios, complications, and sequelae, as well as the training gaps after postgraduate residency and fellowship programs.