What is Lumbar Endoscopic Foraminotomy?

We perform endoscopic foraminotomy for both the lumbar and cervical. Cervical endoscopic foraminotomy targets the cervical area of the spine. The lumbar endoscopic foraminotomy is a procedure usually performed on an outpatient basis while the patient is under general anesthesia, and can provide relief even when other treatments have failed.  

During the procedure, a board certified back surgeon inserts a specially designed endoscope, a small tube, into the spine nerve canal. A small piece of the enlarged bone is removed with a micro instrument to open the nerve canal. Herniated disc, bone spurs, and scars in the spinal nerve canal are then removed and any degenerative disc is treated with laser, which deadens pain nerves inside the disc and hardens the disc to prevent any leakage to the surrounding areas.

Because it is a minimally invasive procedure, recovery time is brief, in fact, most patients are up and moving within a few hours. However, because it involves surgery on the spine, it is strongly recommended that a board certified laser spine surgeon perform the surgery. Every physician at our comprehensive spine center is a board certified spinal surgeon.

Benefits of Lumbar Endoscopic Foraminotomy

• Minimally invasive procedure
• Small incision
• Quick recovery
• Same day surgery with no hospitaliation (outpatient procedure)
• High success rates
• Local anesthesia
• Preservation of spinal mobility
• Minimal or no blood loss
• Mnimal scar tissue formation

Treated Conditions

• Arthritis
• Bulging Disc
• Bone Spurs
• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
• Foraminal Stenosis
• Spine Degeneration
• Radiculitis
• Radiculopathy
• Disc Herniation
• Sciatica
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spinal Instability
• Spinal Stenosis

When is Lumbar Endoscopic Foraminotomy Recommended?

• Severe back pain radiating down to the lower extremeties.
• Conventional treatments fail to work after three months, such as pain medications, rest, physical theraphy, and/or chiropractic adjustments do not yield sufficient results.
• CT scans and MRI showing nerve compression in the lumbar region of the spine.

For more information about this procedure, please visit our spine educational videos page or contact us today.