The role of endoscopic surgery in the treatment of painful conditions of an aging spine: State of the art

Abstract

Endoscopic spine surgeons bridge the major gap between fusion-oriented spinal surgeons and pain management physicians. Current surgical philosophy by traditionally trained spinal surgeons focuses on decompression with or without fusion as the “ultimate cure” for a painful spinal segment, while pain management uses spinal injections and techniques such as peripheral nerve and spinal cord neuro-modulation to relieve pain. Endoscopic surgery is the least invasive of current minimally invasive surgical options-focuses on treating the patho-anatomy of the pain generator. This represents a path between traditional open decompression with or without fusion and the more temporary techniques of pain management.