Endoscopic Discectomy of the Lumbar and Cervical Spine

Atlantic Spinal Care performs endoscopic discectomy for both the cervical and the lumbar areas of the spine. The two procedures vary slightly so we have provided you information about each below.

Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (ELD)

Indications: Lumbar disc tear, bulge, herniation, recurrent disc herniation, radiculitis, radiculopathy.

• Persistent low back pain or buttock pain with or without leg pain for more than 8-12 weeks. The pain is unresponsive to conservative treatments including: physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, DRX non-surgical manipulations, manipulations under anesthesia, spinal injections; or previous surgery has failed.
• MRI, CT scan, and discography document lumbar disc problems such as disc annular tear, disc bulge, disc herniations.
• Electric nerve diagnostic test or EMG demonstrates nerve root irritation or radiculopathy.

Procedures: The patient is brought to operative room with intravenous sedation. Under local anesthesia, a small metal tube as pencil size is inserted to the lumbar spine area with disc problems under X-ray guidance. The annular tear, bulging disc, or herniated disc can be found easily with a camera looking through the tube. A large piece of herniated disc will be pulled out with grasper. A small disc bulge or annular tear will be treated with laser, which vaporizes disc material, kills pain nerves inside the disc, and hardens the disc to prevent further leakage of disc material to the surrounding nerves.

Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy (ECD)

Indications: cervical disc tear, bulge, disc herniation, brachial neuritis.

• Persistent headache, upper back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, or tingling and numbness in upper extremities.
• Symptoms unresponsive to conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications, PT, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and spinal steroid injections for 8-12 weeks.
• CT, discogram, and MRI showing cervical disc bulge, tear, or herniation.

Procedures: The patient is put under with general anesthesia. A small metal tube of about 4mm in diameter is inserted to the cervical spine area with disc problems from the front of the neck under X-ray guidance. The herniated disc can be found easily with a camera looking through the tube. A large piece of herniated disc will be pulled out with grasper. A small disc bulge or annular tear will be treated with laser, which vaporizes disc material, kills pain nerves inside the disc, and hardens the disc to prevent further leakage of disc material to the surrounding nerves.