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History and Basic Concepts of Full-Endoscopic Spine Surgery

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Core Techniques of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

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Abstract

Standing and walking is the greatest privilege of humans that differentiates us from other animals. Spine surgery is one of the oldest surgical procedures dating back to the Greeks in the fifth century BC. Many experts have since been studying effective surgical methods for different spinal pathologies; however, spine surgery has been associated with longer operative time, high morbidity, and prolonged disabilities. Recent advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques have allowed spine surgeons to overcome many of these issues. One of the most representative minimally invasive surgical techniques is endoscopic spinal surgery.

Endoscopic spine surgery was introduced by P. Kambin and A. Yeung, and since its introduction in the 1990s many advances have been made. Initially, endoscopic surgery was performed using the transforaminal approach. Surgical indications have been broadened with the introduction of the interlaminar approach along with many technological advancements. Improvements in endoscopic resolution and various surgical instruments are allowing surgeons to perform endoscopic surgeries for pathologies once considered as contraindications. In particular, the introduction of surgical procedures using single portal and bi-portal systems may gradually replace classic open surgery. Therefore, it can be said that there are still many areas to explore in the field of endoscopic spine surgery.

This chapter explains the history of full-endoscopic spinal discectomy, decompression technology, and a new paradigm for endoscopic spinal surgery. This history may help dictate the future of practical endoscopic spinal surgery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea

    Sang Gu Lee

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  1. Sang Gu Lee
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Correspondence to Sang Gu Lee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea (Republic of)

    Yong Ahn

  2. Park Medical Center, Pyeongtaek-si, Kyonggi-do, Korea (Republic of)

    Jin-Kyu Park

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Chun-Kun Park

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Lee, S.G. (2023). History and Basic Concepts of Full-Endoscopic Spine Surgery. In: Ahn, Y., Park, JK., Park, CK. (eds) Core Techniques of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9849-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9849-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-9848-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-9849-2

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