Lumbar endoscopy allows different lumbar, dorsal and/or cervical pathologies (hernias, impingements, stenosis, discopathies, among others) to be treated in a minimally invasive way.
This outpatient procedure is performed with sedation and local anesthesia, and is widely recommended for its low risks, little bleeding, minimal postoperative pain and quick recovery.
However, for lumbar endoscopy to be a success, it must be performed by a surgeon who is an expert in the field. Here at the Panama Clinic Orthopedic Center (COPAC) we have specialists in spine surgery with an impeccable track record, being able to ensure that your operation and recovery will be totally satisfactory.
Endoscopic spine surgery is an intervention of minimal aggression to the tissues as it does not require a wide dissection to treat the condition, whether lumbar, dorsal and/or cervical.
The procedure begins by administering local anesthesia to the patient, after this, the surgeon makes a small incision of approximately 2 cm on the skin; Through this opening, an optical lens is introduced capable of enlarging and transmitting to a screen everything that happens inside the spinal canal.
Having a complete view of the structures to be treated, the specialist uses advanced instruments and special techniques to reconstruct or remove the pathology that is causing the symptoms.
Endoscopic surgery of the spine aims to treat disc inflammation that causes pain before the structure continues to degenerate; In this sense, lumbar endoscopy is indicated for patients with:
Neck pain.
Cervicobrachialgia.
Low back pain.
Low back pain.
Herniated discs with or without neurological involvement.
Lumbar hernias.
Lumbar foraminal stenosis.
Protrusions.
Grips.
And so on.
It is really difficult to determine the cost of a lumbar endoscopy without first examining the patient’s health conditions and carefully evaluating all the variables that influence the surgery, which can generate a variation in the total price.
For more information, consult your case with our specialists and get a personalized quote in moments.
The first thing you should know is that this is a surgery with a high success rate (around 90%), so in the blink of an eye, you will have already recovered your quality of life and will forget about all the pain suffered.
In the days leading up to surgery, it is mandatory to have an appointment with the anesthesiologist to discuss your medical history and the medications you take regularly, he or she will tell you if you should stop using one or more of these and why.
Smokers are recommended to quit smoking; It is proven that tobacco delays wound healing, increases the risk of respiratory infection and accelerates bone and cartilage wear.
Avoid eating heavy foods at least 8 hours before the procedure; Also, be sure to stop drinking alcohol 24 hours in advance.
The recovery of a patient who has undergone a lumbar endoscopy is almost immediate; Generally, people can return to their normal life (with the proper precautions) after a few days. However, experts recommend waiting 1 to 2 months to resume demanding sports activities and jobs that require a lot of physical effort.
Every surgical procedure has a margin of risk; In the case of lumbar endoscopy, this margin is very small. As mentioned above, bleeding, infections, and postoperative pain are minimized by the endoscopic technique.
Lumbar endoscopic surgery leaves a scar of 1 or 2 centimeters in diameter, this allows the back not to lose its normal aesthetic appearance.
As this is a minimally invasive procedure with a low impact on bone, muscle, spinal cord and nerve structures, the patient can easily return to work (with caution) one week after surgery. However, it is advisable to respect the opinion of your treating doctor about the estimated rest time for your case.
Unlike conventional “open” spine surgery that took more than 3 hours, the endoscopic procedure lasts approximately between one hour and one hour and thirty minutes; This time may vary according to the maneuvers carried out during lumbar endoscopy.
The days following surgery, the patient should mainly avoid 2 things: Standing for a long time and performing flexion and extension exercises with the spine repetitively or with effort; It will gradually be easier to incorporate into their daily routine, making sure that the activities to be carried out do not cause discomfort in the operated area.
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