Cervical SpineScope™ 2180

Disc Decompression and Annuloplasty

Ease of Use: Combines guide needle, working cannula, dilator, trephine, and endoscope in one set.

Cervical disc herniation is a major cause of neck, shoulder and limb pain. Thousands of patients each year undergo open surgery and fusion to alleviate pain caused by cervical disc hernias and annular defects.

Using a newly developed combination of endoscopy, specially designed mechanical instruments, Ho:YAG laser energy and RF probes surgeons report over 90% good to excellent results. In most cases fusion is avoided.

In 1998, Savolainen et al (1) reported in a prospective randomized study on the surgical results of 91 patients with cervical root compression due to herniated disc. The conclusion was that satisfactory outcomes could be achieved by simple anterior discectomy without fusion or instrumentation.

In 2001, Lee reported (2) on 277 patients, 132 received open cervical discectomy and 98 required fusion, 145 received arthroscopic discectomy with a combination of laser and mechanical means. Good to excellent results were similar in both groups, (91.7% and 90.3%). Fusion was avoided in the arthroscopically treated group.

Reuter reported (3) in 2002 on 154 patients who underwent endoscopic cervical disc decompression and annuloplasty using a combination of forceps, suction/aspiration and laser. Good/Excellent results were reported in 133 patients (86%), 10 required open discectomy and 7 underwent fusion.

(1) Savolainen S, Rinne J, Hernesniemi: A prospective randomized study of anterior single-level cervical disc operations with long-term follow-up: Surgical fusion is unnecessary. Neurosurgery 43:268-274, 1998

(2) Lee S. Comparison of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy to open anterior discectomy for cervical herniations. J Minim Invasive Spinal Tech Vol 1, Inaugural 2001

(3) Reuter M. Laser assisted spinal endoscopy for herniated cervical discs. J Minim Invasive Spinal Tech Vol 2, Spring 2002