What is endoscopic spine surgery?
Endoscopic spine surgery uses small (7–10mm) incisions and a camera-guided approach to perform discectomy or decompression. It's a less invasive alternative to traditional open or microscopic spine surgery.
Indications: lumbar disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, some cases of central stenosis. Not all spine pathology is suitable.
Advantages: minimal muscle disruption, day-of or overnight discharge, faster recovery (1–2 weeks vs 4–6 weeks for traditional approach).
Limitations: technique-dependent results; surgeon experience curve is steep. Programs doing 100+ endoscopic cases/year have substantially better outcomes than less-experienced ones.
For international care, established endoscopic spine programs exist in India (Apollo, Medanta), Korea (multiple programs), Germany. Cost ~$5–8k internationally vs $15–25k US.
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