Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy (LED) is recommended to treat herniated/protruded lumbar discs with or without annular tears and degenerative disc disease. This procedure is performed endoscopically with a small probe, under local anesthesia and there is no incision. Dr. Schiffer often combines the LED procedure with Thermal Annuloplasty procedure. Microdiscectomy is recommended to treat sequestered free fragment and bone spurs in the lumbar region.

Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy (CED) is recommended to treat herniated/protruded cervical discs. It is performed endoscopically under local anesthesia, using a small probe. CED can also be performed on cervical herniated discs that are extruded or compressing the spinal cord. Anterior Cervical Discectomy (ACD) is recommended to treat extensive osteophytes (bone spurs) with or without disc protrusion. This surgery is performed using a microscope, with a small incision, under general anesthesia. See similar questions...

endoscopic discectomy is a relatively common and simple procedure that many physicians around the world perform. It involves the removal of a portion of the disc to rectify both back and leg pain. The amount of disc removed is approximately 10% of the total of the disc itself and therefore it is really a partial discectomy. See similar questions...

A herniated lumbar disc can press on the nerves in the spine and may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the leg, called sciatica. Most patients (80% - 90%) with an acute lumbar disc herniation improve without surgery. Surgery is less effective in relieving back pain, but for some patients, especially those with leg pain, surgery may be recommended. Surgery removes part of the herniated disc through a small incision, relieving the pressure on the nerve. See similar questions...

All surgical procedures have potential risks and possible complications and those associated with selective endoscopic discectomy™ surgery are similar but much less common than following open back surgery. The most common complications are: persistent nerve root pain either due to minor manipulation of the nerve or regeneration of the nerve that was damaged prior to surgery. See similar questions...

Dr. Anthony Yeung has performed more than 2000 of these procedures and originated this technique with the YESS endoscope and taught me his technique. Based upon his experience we believe that this technique is successful because of several factors. The abnormal portion of the disc that is creating internal pressure against the annulus and nerve root is removed. See similar questions...

In our eight years of experience of the CED (Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy) and 14 years of experience with the LED (Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy), the long-term results are excellent. See similar questions...

In a rare patient than has a disk that has become a fully extruded and migrated up into the spinal canal. The patient has extensive spinal stenosis he will need an extensive amount of bone removed which is better done with open surgery. If the patient has extensive spinal instability and requires a spinal fusion this must be done with an open procedure. See similar questions...

After six months of treatment for back pain, the doctor has told me I'm "recovered." I may be pain free, but there are still many normal things I can't do yet. How can I be "recovered?" How can low back pain be a "benign" disorder? It has ruined my life. If I could cut my spine out I'd do it in a heartbeat. How soon can I expect relief from my back and leg pain with a spinal fusion? I'm having one level fused (L45) using the ALIF method. I had a spinal fusion about 10 years ago. See similar questions...

Two types of material when present in the spinal column were the spinal nerve roots and spinal cord membranes are located (epidural space) produce severe scarring. Most scar producing is the presence of nucleus pulposus, which is the soft central part of the spinal discs. The next scar producing material is presence of blood in this space. Both of these materials are released in large quantities with lumbar laminectomy and open discectomy. See similar questions...

Lumbar instability involves excessive motion between vertebral segments. This motion may be caused by spinal fractures, tumors, infection, scoliosis or other bony abnormalities that weaken the architecture of the spine. When severe, the instability can cause incapacitating deformity or pain as a result of the structural changes. Instability can also lead to damage or inflammation of the nerve roots. Disc degeneration may cause more subtle instability and produce pain from repetitive motion. See similar questions...

A microdiscectomy is a procedure done in the lumbosacral spine through an incision of approximately 1 inch, depending upon the patient's size; the incision may have to be slightly larger in obese patients. It is an outpatient procedure. That is, a same-day surgery procedure, where the patient goes home the same day of surgery with minimal muscle dissection. The incision is smaller than that used for any kind of endoscopic procedures that are currently being performed. See similar questions...

Lumbar fusion improves instability of the spine. As a disc degenerates and flattens, the vertebrae slip back and forth. This irritates the joints and creates or worsens stenosis (arthritis of the spine), irritating the nerves, causing back and leg pain. A bone graft is placed along the vertebrae and fuses or grows together with the vertebrae. See similar questions...

Introduced by Sony in January 2004, Hi-MD is a nearly complete revamping of the original Minidisc system. The most significant change is the introduction of Hi-MD media, which includes a new 1GB blank in the existing MD form-factor and a reformatting of existing MD media that doubles its capacity to 305MB. In addition, several important and long wished-for Minidisc capabilities have been incorporated into Hi-MD equipment. See similar questions...

After a microdiscectomy, you may experience local soreness at the incision for 5 to 7 days, usually requiring a light pain medication in pill form. There is usually a dressing in the area of the incision for 3 to 5 days. Sometimes paper strips (Steri-Strips®) stay on the skin for about one week. Physical therapy is often initiated after the first week following surgery and continues for a few weeks. See similar questions...

I have just been diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia and my doctor recommends that I have my esophagus out. How do I know if this is the right treatment? Esophagectomy, surgical removal of the esophagus, is a standard recommended treatment for high-grade dysplasia. See similar questions...

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy also called ETS is a surgical procedure that involves making minute incisions in the underarm to install titanium clips that block transmissions from the sympathetic nervous system to the sweat glands. Alternatively a minuscule cut is made at a strategic point in the sympathetic nervous system to interrupt the transmission of signals. The procedure takes very little time and is virtually painless because it is conducted under anesthesia. See similar questions...

A light emitting diode. They replace traditional incandescent bulbs and aren't actually bulbs at all, but rather a type of semiconductor diode that produces electroluminescence. See similar questions...