The conventional approach to the lumbar discectomy requires significant tissue dissection to obtain a sufficient working space and is known to cause possible complications and injuries. The minimally invasive, fully endoscopic uniportal interlaminar discectomy provides numerous advantages to the typical open procedure. Some advantages include: good visualization of anatomical structures utilizing continuous lavage; lower rates of operative complications such as dural injury, bleeding, and infection; and shorter hospitalization, with increased post-operative rehabilitation. Surgical procedure utilizes guided fluoroscopy to gain access to the interlaminar window, with subsequent placement of the working channel endoscope. Microscopic debridement of herniated lumbar disc and decompression of nerve roots is conducted.
This case highlights a patient with significant disc herniation at the L5-S1 level with concurrent mild to moderate cervicothoracic scoliosis. The patient elected for the minimally invasive, fully endoscopic interlaminar microdiscectomy.
Authors: William Fuell, Eylem Ocal M.D., Salih Aydin M.D.
- A case deemed inoperable via the conventional open procedure due to interlaminar access being required.
- Recurrent herniation after prior conventional procedure.
- Spinal canal stenosis.
The main complication that arises when deciding to elect for a fully endoscopic uniportal procedure is the surgeon’s lack of experience with the technique. In addition, conditions limiting interlaminar access such as multisegmented fusions and extensive central spinal canal stenosis are contraindicated.
The patient was placed under general anesthesia while prone and in flexion to gain access to the interlaminar window.
A full patient history, MRI, and X-ray imaging was obtained to confirm a significant lumbar disc herniation at the L5-S1 level. Mild to moderate scoliosis in the cervicothoracic was noted, and there was no spondylolisthesis.
Initial skin incision markings were made at the L5-S1 level as medial as possible to spinous process line on the right side. Fluoroscopic guidance was used to aid the insertion of an 18-gauge spinal needle below the zygapophyseal joint, lateral to the S1 traversing nerve root to gain access to the interlaminar window.
The advantages of a minimally invasive procedure are numerous in comparison to the conventional open procedure.
- Reduced ligamentous and bony resection required for visualization.
- Lower incidence of intraoperative complications such as dural injury, infection, and bleeding.
- Decreased hospitalization time and increased rate of rehabilitation.
- Reduced trauma to the surrounding tissue.
The disadvantages associated with the interlaminar procedure is that it requires a defect in the ligamentum flavum and the possible inexperience of the surgeon.
With the endoscopic technique, if a dural injury were to occur, a switch to the open procedure would be required to suture the dura. Long-term medial retraction of the thecal sac is to be avoided, with intermittent retraction with the operating sheath being optimal for reducing the risk of neurological damage.
Conventional risks that accompany any surgical procedure such as infection and bleeding are possible.
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[1] Ruetten, S. (2010). Full-endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy and spinal decompression. Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Spinal Techniques E-Book, 351.
[2] Schick U, Dohnert J, Richter A, et al. Microendoscopic lumbar discectomy versus open surgery: An intraoperative EMG study. Eur Spine J 2002;11:20–26
[3] Yeung AT, Tsou PM. Posterolateral endoscopic excision for lumbar disc herniation: Surgical technique, outcome and complications in 307 consecutive cases. Spine 2002;27:722–731.
[4] Ruetten S. The full-endoscopic interlaminar approach for lumbar disc herniations. In: Mayer HM, editor. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: A Surgical Manual. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2005. p. 346–355
[5] Mathews HH. Transforaminal endoscopic microdiscectomy. Neurosurg Clin N Am 1996;7:59–63.
Here, we have a 39 yrs old female with complaints of noisy breathing for last two years post thyroidectomy. Flexible laryngoscopy confirmed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. She was planned for coblation assisted cordectomy.
Patient was taken up for procedure under general anaesthesia. She also started having stridor after induction. Nasopharyngeal intubation with spontaneous breathing technique was used. Entropy leads were placed over forehead to monitor the depth of anaesthesia. Tube position was confirmed with endoscopic view and Benjamin lindohlm laryngoscope was suspended. As the patient was spontaneously breathing, the stridor became more prominent, with stable vitals and the procedure was continued. The vocal cord retractor was fixed and coblation wand was then used with 7:3 settings for ablation and coagulation respectively. The surgical limits were-anteriorly the junction between ant 2/3 and post 1/3 of the vocal cord, posteriorly just anterior to the vocal process of arytenoid to prevent cartilage exposure and post operative granulations. Superely till the ventricle and inferioly till the medial most surface of the subglottis. Laterally approx. 5 mm depth was defined to prevent injury to the superior laryngeal artery branch and further bleeding. Once the final airway was achieved , the topical lignocaine was used to prevent laryngeal spasm post extubation.
The patient was shifted to the ward without oxygen, the voice was assessed on post op day 2.
Patient was called for follow up on post op day 14th and good voice outcomes were achieved.
So lets have a look on some tips & tricks for the safe procedure—–
Nasopharyngeal insufflation technique with entropy monitor will give adequate and safe surgical field
2. Appropriate exposure will help you to delineate the surgical margins
3. Topical anaesthesia before and after the procedure will prevent sudden laryngeal spasm
4. Firm holding of coblation device will help to prevent injury to surrounding structures like anterior 2/3 vocal cord, opposite side vocal cord, medial surface of vocal cord or aryteroid posteriorly
5. Do not ablate more laterally to prevent bleeding, if at all it happens, use patties or coagulation switch for hemostasis.
6. And at the end of the procedure ,use catheter suction to suck out blood clots or saline from the airway if any….
To Conclude-Coblation Assisted Cordectomy( CAC) can be performed safely with good outcomes in case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis using tubeless anesthesia technique without tracheostomy !
A 49-year-old female presented with a one-year history of right frontal headaches, not controlled despite OTC medication. Work up with head CT revealed an osteoma of the right frontal sinus. The patient experienced no improvement in headache severity and elected to have surgical intervention.
Methods: ENT Fusion Navigation system was used during the entire case. A ball-tip probe was used to fracture out the uncinate bone and a backbiter was used to remove the uncinate in its entirety. The natural ostium of the right maxillary sinus was then visualized. Again, the backbiter was used to remove tissue anterior to the natural ostium. A straight Tru-Cut was used to remove the ostium towards the posterior fontanelle. The right middle turbinate was resected in order to gain sufficient access for the resection of the osteoma. In order to remove the right middle turbinate, a turbinate scissors were used to make 3 cuts along the attachment of the middle turbinate and this was pulled down. A down biter was used to open up the maxillary sinus inferiorly. There was no tissue seen in the maxillary sinus. After this was done, an ethmoidectomy was performed by placing a J-curette behind the ethmoid bulla point anteriorly. This ethmoid bulla was removed along with several other anterior ethmoid cells. After this was done, a frontal sinus seeker was used to identify the right frontal osteoma. The patient did not have a right frontal sinus. Instead, an osteoma was in the area of what would have been the right frontal sinus or nasal frontal outflow tract. Image guidance was meticulously used to identify the osteoma. A 70-degree frontal drill was used and this osteoma was slowly drilled to remove as much as possible. Drilling was done from the posterior edge of the osteoma up to the skull base superiorly, to the lamina papyracea laterally and all bone that could be safely removed was removed. A right frontal propel stent was placed in the bony cavity created by the drill out and after this, the sinus was irrigated and suctioned.
Results: The patient was sent to recovery in good condition and no adverse reactions were reported by the surgeon or patient.
Surgeons: Alissa Kanaan, MD. Zachary V. Anderson, MD.
Institution: Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
A 70-year-old male presented with persistent left-sided epistaxis, occurring 4 – 12 times a day for 3 weeks. Episodes lasted 10 – 15 minutes, but once required nasal packing at the ED.
Introduction: Ligation of the sphenopalatine artery is often indicated for patients with persistent posterior epistaxis that cannot be attributed to other causes. This video demonstrates a step-wise endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation using hemoclips.
Methods: In order to access the maxillary sinus cavity, a ball-tip probe was used to fracture the uncinate and a backbiter was used to remove the uncinate in its entirety. Once in the maxillary sinus, a backbiter was used to remove the tissue anterior to the normal ostium. A straight Tru-Cut was used to remove tissue posterior the natural ostium, taking down the posterior fontanelle. After this was done, a down-biter and a microdebrider blade were used to remove tissue inferior to the natural ostium towards the inferior turbinate. A caudal instrument was used to raise a subperiosteal flap just posterior to the left maxillary sinus posterior wall. Next, dissection from the inferior turbinate up to the top of the maxillary sinus was done from an inferior to superior direction, roughly 1 cm posterior to the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus. The sphenopalatine artery was seen coming out of the sphenopalatine foramen and soft tissue was dissected off this artery. Two hemoclips were placed over the entire artery.
Results: The patient was sent to recovery in good condition and no adverse reactions were reported by the surgeon or patient.
Surgeons: Alissa Kanaan, MD. Zachary V. Anderson, MD.
Institution: Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Review Fully Endoscopic Uniportal Interlaminar Microdiscectomy.