RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rationale and Advantages of Endoscopic Spine Surgery
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP S11
OP S20
DO 10.14444/8160
VO 15
IS suppl 3
A1 Jae-Won Jang
A1 Dong-Geun Lee
A1 Choon-Keun Park
YR 2021
UL http://ijssurgery.com//content/15/suppl_3/S11.abstract
AB The goal of a spine surgery is to achieve adequate neural tissue decompression, maintenance of spinal stability, and successful stabilization of an unstable spine. To achieve these surgical goals, damage to normal tissues, including the spinal column and surrounding soft tissues, is inevitable after the beginning of a spine surgery. Extensive damage to normal spinal column and paraspinal collateral tissues during operation can lead to unsuccessful outcomes due to persistent axial pain and additional surgeries due to occurrence of spinal instability. Numerous efforts, such as the usage of microscopy, tubular retractor systems, percutaneous instruments, and trials of new operative approaches have been attempted to reduce normal tissue damage and improve surgical outcomes. Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) was introduced about 3 decades ago as a minimally invasive spine surgery and has been widely spread with the development of endoscopic surgical instruments and adoption of new endoscopic surgical approaches during the past 2 decades. Theoretically, ESS may be the gold standard method of spine surgery because of its minimal tissue damage and good visualization of the surgical field. However, surgeons hesitate to initiate an ESS due to its steep learning curve and the lack of high-level evidence of surgical outcomes. In this article, the rationale and advantages of performing ESS are discussed by reviewing published articles.