Spine Health

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a medical condition characterized by the narrowing of spaces within the spine, which can compress the nerves passing through it. This usually happens in the lower back and neck areas, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, muscle weakness, and issues with bladder or bowel control. It is commonly due to age-related degeneration but can also stem from injuries or other health issues. Statistically speaking, people over 50 are at a higher risk of developing spinal stenosis.

Doctors might suggest endoscopic lumbar decompression surgery when non-surgical treatments, like medications, physical therapy, or injections, do not effectively alleviate symptoms of spinal stenosis. This technique involves making small incisions and using an endoscope—a thin tube with a camera and light—to guide the surgeon in removing the tissue or bone that is compressing the nerves. This approach typically results in less tissue damage, reduced pain, faster recovery times, and shorter hospital stays compared to traditional open surgery.

Recently, surgeons have reported that by adopting 3D technology during the procedure, the depth perception provided might help physicians to better understand the spatial relationships between structures, identify bleeding points faster, improve navigation and instrument maneuverability, and provide greater visualization of anatomical details.

Here's a simple illustration to help understand how the procedure works: