New ipsilateral full endoscopic interlaminar approach for L5-S1 foraminal and extraforaminal decompression: technique description and initial case series.

Background: The L5-S1 interlaminar access described in 2006 by Ruetten et al. represented a paradigm shift and a new perspective on endoscopic spinal approaches. Since then, the spinal community has shown that both the traditional ipsilateral and novel contralateral interlaminar approaches to the L5-S1 foramen are good alternatives to transforaminal access.

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Disc Decompression: A Study of 27 Patients.

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency nucleoplasty is a true minimally invasive technique for treatment for radiculopathy caused by contained disc protrusions. This minimally invasive procedure uses controlled thermoablation for reducing the intervertebral disc and decompressing the lumbar nerve root. Material and Methods: Our study is a prospective analysis of 27 patients aged from 30 to 64 years with lumbar disc protrusion who were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency disc decompression (PRFD) between May 2018 and May 2019.

Full-Endoscopic Technique for Posterior Fossa Decompression in Chiari Malformation.

Background And Importance: Full-endoscopic techniques are well-described for spinal procedures. Although endoscopic-assisted techniques are reported for posterior fossa decompression (PFD) in Chiari malformation (CM), a full-endoscopic technique is yet to be reported in these patients. The aim of this study was to present and describe a full-endoscopic technique for PFD in patients with CM.

Full-endoscopic technique for posterior fossa decompression in Chiari malformation type I: An anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers.

Although endoscope-assisted techniques have been described, a full-endoscopic approach is yet to be performed for posterior fossa decompression (PFD) in Chiari malformation type I (CM-I). This study aims to describe the full-endoscopic PFD technique and evaluate its feasibility. Five fresh-frozen anonymized adult human cadavers were operated on using an endoscope with an oval shaft cross-section with a diameter of 9.

Towards a More Realistic Appraisal of Complications Following Staged Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Single Institution Series.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: With steadily increasing implementation of far lateral approaches in spine surgery, surgeons can utilize the advantages of different approaches synergistically to ensure an optimal patient outcome. Our single institution study aimed to assess the complication rates of patients who underwent a lateral interbody fusion as the index procedure and additional anterior or posterior instrumentation as part of a planned staged surgical reconstruction effort.

AOSpine Consensus Paper on Nomenclature for Working-Channel Endoscopic Spinal Procedures.

Study Design: International consensus paper on a unified nomenclature for full-endoscopic spine surgery.

Objectives: Minimally invasive endoscopic spinal procedures have undergone rapid development during the past decade. Evolution of working-channel endoscopes and surgical instruments as well as innovation in surgical techniques have expanded the types of spinal pathology that can be addressed.

Early recognition of patients with axial spondyloarthritis-evaluation of referral strategies in primary care.

Objective: Chronic inflammatory back pain (IBP) is frequently reported in axial SpA (axSpA) but also in the general population. We evaluated a recently proposed two-step referral system for early recognition of axSpA in primary care and compare it with other combinations of symptoms and SpA-related items.

Methods: Consecutive chronic back pain patients ≤45 years of age answered a questionnaire and were seen by a primary care physician who decided whether HLA-B27 needed to be determined.

Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression.

The most common causes of degenerative narrowing of the spinal canal are disc herniations and spinal canal stenosis. The standard surgical procedure for lumbar spinal canal stenosis today is microsurgical, microscope-assisted decompression. Full-endoscopic decompression is now also technically feasible and more widespread because of the development of surgical access techniques and instruments.

Worldwide research productivity in the field of full-endoscopic spine surgery: a bibliometric study.

Purpose: To investigate the quantity and quality of articles in the field of full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) from different countries and assess characteristics of worldwide research productivity.

Methods: Articles published from 1997 to July 23, 2018, were screened using the Web of Science database. All studies were assessed for the following parameters: the number of total publications, h-index, contribution of countries, authors, journals, and institutions.

Full-Endoscopic Interlaminar Lumbar Discectomy: Retrospective Review of Clinical Results and Complications in 545 International Patients.

Background: Minimally invasive techniques have been developed to provide access to the disc with better visualization while causing less muscle trauma and its consequences. This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical outcomes and complications of the fully endoscopic lumbar discectomy interlaminar approach in a large number of patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus who underwent fully endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy between 2011 and 2016 were reviewed.

Surgical treatment of anterior cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia.

Purpose: Dysphagia due to anterior cervical osteophytes is a rare condition. However, it can become serious enough to permanently impair the quality of life up to making normal food intake impossible. If conservative treatment fails, there is the option of surgical resection of the osteophytes.

The full-endoscopic uniportal technique for decompression of the anterior craniocervical junction using the retropharyngeal approach: an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers and review of the literature.

Objective: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy. Different techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages can be used. In addition to the gold standard-the transoral approach-there is also increasing experience with the endoscopic transnasal technique.

Full-endoscopic uniportal retropharyngeal odontoidectomy for anterior craniocervical infection.

Background: Infections of the anterior craniocervical junction may require surgery. There are various techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages. This study evaluates the full-endoscopic uniportal technique via the anterior retropharyngeal approach for odontoidectomy, decompression, and debridement.

Operation of Soft or Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniations in the Full-Endoscopic Uniportal Extraforaminal Technique.

Background: Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord and to minimize surgical trauma and its consequences. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Surgical treatment of cervical subaxial intraspinal extradural cysts using a full-endoscopic uniportal posterior approach.

Purpose: Symptomatic intraspinal extradural cysts of the cervical subaxial spine are rare, but usually require surgery. Conventional posterior decompression is the gold standard. However, there is increasing experience with endoscopic surgical techniques.

Decompression of the anterior thoracic spinal canal using a novel full-endoscopic uniportal transthoracic retropleural technique-an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers.

Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and spinal stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Full-endoscopic Uniportal Odontoidectomy and Decompression of the Anterior Cervicomedullary Junction Using the Retropharyngeal Approach.

Study Design: A study of a series of consecutive full-endoscopic uniportal decompressions of the anterior craniocervical junction with retropharyngeal approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction in patients with bulbomedullary compression using a full-endoscopic uniportal technique via an anterolateral retropharyngeal approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy.

Full-endoscopic posterior foraminotomy surgery for cervical disc herniations.

Objective: Surgery for cervical disc herniation with full-endoscopic posterior access.

Indications: Cervical disc herniation and neuroforaminal pathology with radicular symptoms.

Contraindications: Neck pain alone, cervical myelopathy or pathologies with central nervous system symptoms, instabilities requiring correction/instabilities.

Full-endoscopic interlaminar operations in lumbar compressive lesions surgery: prospective study of 350 patients - "ENDOS" Study.

Background: Full-endoscopic operations of lumbar spine are truly minimally invasive surgical procedures. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard in many areas because of the advantages they offer intraoperatively and after surgery. With the interlaminar and transforaminal approach, two full-endoscopic procedures are available for lumbar compressive lesion operations.

A New Electromagnetic Navigation System for Pedicle Screws Placement: A Human Cadaver Study at the Lumbar Spine.

Introduction: Technical developments for improving the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement play an increasingly important role in spine surgery. In addition to the standard techniques of free-hand placement and fluoroscopic navigation, the rate of complications is reduced by 3D fluoroscopy, cone-beam CT, intraoperative CT/MRI, and various other navigation techniques. Another important aspect that should be emphasized is the reduction of intraoperative radiation exposure for personnel and patient.

Navigation of pedicle screws in the thoracic spine with a new electromagnetic navigation system: a human cadaver study.

Introduction: Posterior stabilization of the spine is a standard procedure in spinal surgery. In addition to the standard techniques, several new techniques have been developed. The objective of this cadaveric study was to examine the accuracy of a new electromagnetic navigation system for instrumentation of pedicle screws in the spine.

Bilateral spinal decompression of lumbar central stenosis with the full-endoscopic interlaminar versus microsurgical laminotomy technique: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Background: Extensive decompression with laminectomy, where appropriate, is often still described as the method of choice when operating on degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, tissue-sparing procedures are becoming more common. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard in many areas because of the surgical advantages they offer and the benefits for rehabilitation.

Operation of lumbar zygoapophyseal joint cysts using a full-endoscopic interlaminar and transforaminal approach: prospective 2-year results of 74 patients.

In appropriate situations, extensive decompression with laminectomy often continues to be described as the method of choice for operations involving lumbar zygoapophyseal joint (z-joint) cysts. Tissue-sparing procedures are nevertheless becoming more common. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard procedures in many areas because of the advantages they offer in terms of surgical technique and in rehabilitation.