Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy in Clifton, NJ

Neck and back pain are symptoms of various conditions, many of which don’t respond to conservative treatment. When medication and physical therapy fail, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure called endoscopic discectomy.

At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, we have a team of experienced spine surgeons who can perform minimally invasive endoscopic discectomy in Clifton, NJ. Before scheduling an appointment with us, our surgeons and Concierge Team can answer any questions you may have.

What Is Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy?

An endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that removes herniated disc material from the spine, decompresses spinal nerves, and, if necessary, stabilizes the spine. Besides herniated discs, this surgery can help with other spine conditions that cause neck and back pain.

During the operation, a surgeon makes a small incision on the side of your back with a scalpel. Then they guide an endoscope through the cut. The camera allows the surgeon to precisely use instruments inside your body to remove a small portion of the herniated disc or push it back into place.

An endoscopic discectomy is often an outpatient procedure. In some cases, the doctor may decide to keep you overnight. The operation itself often takes between half an hour and an hour. In the majority of cases, it’s performed under local anesthesia. Since the surgery is minimally invasive, it has a short recovery time. You can usually resume walking right after the anesthesia wears off. The majority of patients can go back to work after a week or two. 

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy?

An endoscopic discectomy provides a surgeon access to your spine without the need to perform an open surgery. This allows the surgical team to treat a number of conditions, including:

• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Radiculitis 
• Radiculopathy
• Sciatica
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bone spurs
• Spinal stenosis
• Scoliosis
• Spine tumors

You could be a good candidate for this procedure in Clifton, NJ if you have one of the above conditions that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments. When you first start having back and neck pain, your doctor is likely to first prescribe oral medications, injections, physical therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. If this approach doesn’t work for at least three months, they may then suggest spine surgery.

If you’ve already had back surgery that failed to achieve the desired results, a qualified spine surgeon may be able to correct the problem by performing an endoscopic discectomy. The procedure can also be helpful for patients whose spine problems lead to serious mobility issues.

Since each patient’s medical history is unique, only a qualified spine surgeon can make a final decision about the candidacy. Some conditions, such as severe fibrotic tissue adhesion, severe stenosis, or a calcified disc may mean that individuals are not eligible for this procedure.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy

Since endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive operation, it comes with multiple benefits, such as faster recovery time, reduced risk of scarring, and less risk for large amounts of blood loss. This is possible because the incision is small, and the damage to the tissues and muscles is minimal. Compared to an open surgery, this operation provides all the same pain-relief benefits while reducing side effects.

A minimally invasive endoscopic discectomy has a high success rate. Around 87% of these procedures lead to favorable results. Since HD cameras provide the surgeon with an excellent view of the damage, they can achieve the desired results without open surgery. Meanwhile, the absence of a large incision allows patients to preserve spinal mobility.  

After the surgery is over, the need for pain medication isn’t as high as after an open surgery. This allows the patient to resume normal activities faster and enjoy a higher quality of life soon after the procedure.

Minimally invasive endoscopic discectomy in Clifton, NJ is still a surgery that’s accompanied by certain risks. They include excessive bleeding, reaction to the anesthesia, nerve damage, infection, and leakage of spinal fluid. However, these risks are much lower than for an open spine surgery, and your doctor will do everything they can to mitigate these risks.

Schedule a Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy in Clifton, NJ

A minimally invasive endoscopic discectomy is often an effective alternative to open spine surgery for people with a variety of conditions that cause back and neck pain. If you think that you are a candidate for this procedure, our team at NJ Spine & Orthopedic is here to help. 

At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, we have a team of experienced surgeons who have performed many successful endoscopic discectomies in Clifton, NJ. To schedule a detailed consultation, please call us at (866) 553-0612 or fill out an online form today.