If you suffer from chronic back and leg pain and have tried non-surgical treatments and interventions with no success, it is probably time to seek a surgical alternative. According to a study in the World Journal of Orthopedics, nearly 100% of adults will experience spinal problems at least once during their lifetime, and costs for treating lower back pain increased a whopping 65% between 1997 and 2005; primarily for non-surgical treatments.¹ But the study also found that, although surgical treatments are generally more expensive than non-surgical options, the overall economic impact favored a surgical alternative, which reduces time off from work and improves productivity.
Back pain can result from several common conditions. Simple muscle strain or overexertion can lead to back pain, especially if the activity is constant and repetitive. Avoiding such activities can help reduce the instances of pain, while allowing the body to heal naturally.
Other spinal conditions may be caused by aging, genetics, trauma, or disease. These include:
Fortunately, many of these conditions can be treated and corrected via spinal surgery, alleviating chronic pain and restoring function and mobility.
But what is the best surgical approach for treating your chronic lower back pain? Here, we'll compare two common surgical treatments for correcting back pain resulting from herniated or degenerative lumbar discs: endoscopic versus microscopic spine surgery.
First, let's look at the similarities between endoscopic and microscopic spinal surgery. Both are considered minimally invasive procedures, which are performed via smaller incisions compared to traditional open spinal surgery. Minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) offers many advantages over conventional spinal surgery, including:
The advantages of minimally invasive procedures are apparent. By reducing the size of surgical incisions, MISS allows for a more targeted approach to correcting the underlying causes of back pain. But which minimally invasive approach is more effective: endoscopic or microscopic spinal surgery?
Although both endoscopic and microscopic surgery are minimally invasive, there are advantages to the microscopic approach that endoscopy cannot offer. During endoscopic procedures, the surgeon visualizes the interior structures of the spine via an endoscope—a small tube containing a camera that is inserted into an incision, projecting a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional surgical site onto a monitor thus resulting in suboptimal visualization.
Microscopic back surgery is performed via high-powered microscopes that are not limited to the scope of the endoscopic camera, thereby affording a greater visual field while still minimizing disruption to the soft tissue. Furthermore, advanced optics afford the surgeon a three-dimensional view of the surgical field which allows for safer, more effective treatment of your spinal condition . Some endoscopic procedures, such as discectomy, are considered to have a higher complication rate than the microscopic technique, which is the most commonly performed treatment and considered the gold standard in disc removal ²
Choosing microscopic over endoscopic spine surgery means you will be receiving the most effective technique available to correct your underlying issue. But how do you go about finding the right surgeon for your procedure? Here are a few questions you should ask prospective surgeons to help you identify the best physician for the job.
If it's time for you to consider surgery to alleviate your chronic back pain, be sure to choose the most effective procedure, a qualified surgeon, and an integrated facility that will see you through your recovery.
¹ Hofstetter, Christopher P., Anna S. Hofer, and Michael Y. Wang. “Economic Impact of Minimally Invasive Lumbar Surgery,” World Journal of Orthopedics, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363801/
² “Endoscopic Discectomy and Microdiscectomy for Lumbar Herniated Discs,” Spine-Health.com, 2018, www.spine-health.com/ask-a-doctor/herniated-disc/endoscopic-discectomy-and-microdiscectomy-lumbar-herniated-discs