Back Institute - Why is our procedure the safest? No "minimally invasive" damage

Non traumatic methods, performed by passing the scope from the skin surface, should be differentiated from traumatic open surgery.
These are 4mm "dot" opening procedures, (with skin openings just large enough to admit the scope), for internal viewing through scope placement directly at the tissue, to be addressed (with no cutting muscle or removal of bone or ligament in gaining access) as compared to working from an external view,(either with or without a microscope), through an open incision (cutting muscle, removing ligament, bone and joint capsule; pulling and holding over nerves for an extended period, in obtaining access to the disc).
Precise Control, Visualization while working, No access Damage, Local Anesthesia, Builds upon the safest proven approaches.
The primary advantage of this outpatient procedure is that it is effective and very low risk since there is no interferences with the muscles, bones, joints or manipulation of the nerves in your lower back area. Since the insertion of the probe through the muscle in the only wound, there is no scarring in or around the nerves. Because the non-traumatic procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, you may be allowed to return home the day of the procedure. Many patients worldwide fly in for the procedure and fly out the next day.
Studies have shown that up to 93 percent of the patients have experienced relief of symptoms with the percutaneous discectomy. Patients who do not obtain pain relief with six weeks of the procedure may be considered for other surgical procedures because there does not appear to be any detrimental effect from performing non-traumatic surgery prior to other techniques.
The Back Institute offers the low risk, simpler alternative you've been searching for: OUTPATIENT NON-TRAUMATIC DISCECTOMY.
NO STITCHES, NO GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Patients are typically discharged within two hours of the procedure with just a band-aid in place.
NON CUTTING SPINE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH - By Leading Neurosurgeon, Board Certified; Yale Fellowship
PREVENT IRREVERSIBEL DAMAGE FROM OLD STYLE CUTTING SPINE SURGERY
HIGHLY EFFECTIVE & SAFEST METHODS
MANY THOUSANDS SUCCESSFULLY TREATED SINCE 1986

Difference between
Non-traumatic "NEW" technique and Traumatic "OLD" technique.

NON-TRAUMATIC NEW TECHNIQUE

Muscle, Bone and Joint are not cut.
Relieves Nerve Pinching.
Herniated Disc Material Removed.
Annular Barrier Wrapping Remains.
No Stitches.
Band Aid only.
No Inpatient Hospital Stay

TRAUMATIC OLD TECHNIQUE

Muscle, Bone and Joint are cut/removed.

Scar Tissue Develops Throughout the Surgical Area.

Annulus Disrupted; High Recurrence Rate (10-15%).

Bone Remains Open.

Hospital Stay-Long Recovery Period.

Ill Effects May Be Permanent-Constriction From Scarring, etc.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Before you have a traumatic operation, please ask your doctor the right questions

Is surgery recommended?
If surgery is recommended, what kind?
How big is the opening? Are stitches ever used?
Is general anesthetic used or can the surgery be done with local/IV?
Is bone/joint removed during the opening process of the operation?
Is Surgery outpatient?
How long is rehab?
Expected return to work date.

Success Rate

Individual cases may not fall into this group.
An estimate of your probability of success is typically obtainable after the review of your scan.

Abstract from the AANS/CNS Spine Meeting [Feb 2001]

During the past two and a half years, 25 patients with L5-S1 free fragments underwent outpatient endoscopic discectomies using a small, soft, malleable scope technique which is not traumatic to the spinal canal contents.
A skin puncture opening (less than 5 mm) is made; under local anesthesia with IV sedation, 1 cm off midline, for paramedian interlaminar access using a 4.2 mm outer cannula, with an inner telescoping fiber-optic working channel plastic endoscope, micro-dissectors and micro-graspers.
The 25 patients ranged in age from 29 to 61, 15 males and 10 females. All had free fragments in the spinal canal at L5-S1 ruptured lateral to the dura. Open microdiscectomy had already been recommended in all cases. All had radicular pain, numbness and/or weakness for at least six weeks consistent with the herniation.
Results (Macnab criteria): 22 excellent (no symptoms, no restriction of activity) 2 good (occasional symptoms), 1 poor (no improvement, required further surgery); for an overall success rate of 96%.
The only adverse effect was that one patient developed a transient, mild, localized hyperpathia which rapidly resolved. This technique provides the advantage that the actual endoscope itself can be placed directly into the free fragment for optimal visualization and removal, in the most direct, least traumatic approach for reaching and removing free fragments at L5-S1.

Small Bandaid

Dot skin opening is so small, only a small bandaid is needed.

All of this herniated disc material was removed through this tiny "dot" opening (4 mm) with the grasper shown. The photo was taken right after the procedure. It shows that the entire opening made in the body is very small.
The problem has been completely treated without the trauma of any kind of larger surgery.

Many types of spine operations involve cutting out the normal important structures between the surface and the disc problem. For most disc problems these types of operations are not necessary and do cause permanent unnecessary damage.

Bogus Terminology:

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery- This is what every spine surgeon claims to do. Exactly how small is it? Most "minimally invasive spine surgery" is actually very traumatic. Since the words have no specific meaning, they should not be used.

Micro-discectomy- a misnomer which sounds small. Actually it is a traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, cutting muscle and typically bone and joint also. A microscope is a large device located outside of the body and requires a traumatic opening, large enough to see inside.

"Gentle Arthroscopic" (as it is so called by some centers in Florida) is in fact a traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, cutting out bone, ligament and commonly joint also. The bone, ligament and joint removed is usually normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent damage and frequently permanent symptoms due to this damage (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome).

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