Dr. Shlomo Davidovich: Neurosurgeon specializing in endoscopic disc herniation surgery

Endoscopic disc herniation surgery

A herniated disc is a phenomenon that occurs when one of the disc membranes in the spine ruptures, and the gelatinous fluid inside it "bursts" and leaks out.  A herniated disc can cause back pain and pain in other areas of the body, and if the sciatic nerve (which runs from the posterior pelvic area through the buttocks to the feet) is damaged, the pressure can cause a variety of symptoms, including dull and persistent pain, tingling in one or both legs or numbness.

These symptoms usually start in the lower back and spread downward to the buttocks and legs. In cases where the ruptured disc presses on other nerves located along the spinal cord, then there may be additional symptoms such as urinary incontinence due to loss of control of the sphincters, spasms or muscle paralysis. In most cases, the damaged disc contracts spontaneously over time, and the pain passes when the pressure exerted on the nerves ceases. However, in 10% of cases, patients require disc herniation surgery.

Types of surgeries currently available to repair a herniated disc
Disc herniation surgery is required in cases of severe pressure on the nerves and without improvement in symptoms, after all other conservative treatments have been given, as well as in situations where severe symptoms develop such as impaired bladder function, advanced muscle weakness or difficulty standing and walking.

Dr. Shlomo Davidovich, a senior surgeon in the neurosurgical department at Beilinson Hospital, notes that there are currently several types of surgeries to repair a herniated disc, including the classical open method, regular endoscopic surgery and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery.

Dr. Shlomo Davidovich explains that the open-method surgery is performed through a skin incision, in which the muscles adjacent to the vertebra are separated from the bone, while removing part of the vertebral arch of the vertebra to allow access to the nerve and ruptured disc.

Faster recovery and extremely high success rates
Dr. Shlomo Davidovich adds that the standard endoscopic disc herniation surgery has existed in the field for over 20 years, but it is a very limited method, as the instrument is not adapted to all cases. The standard endoscopic method is inserted through the 18 mm diameter incision, while the device The optical is outside the body, a fact that significantly reduces the angle of view and image quality obtained on the monitor during surgery.

The advantage of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery lies in the fact that the tube inserted into the body already includes a lens and optical fibers, which allow the surgeon to enlarge up to 100 times both the image on the monitor and the angle of view, leading to maximum accuracy.

Disc herniation surgery with this method is adapted for application in a variety of spinal problems, with extremely high success rates, a significant reduction in the risk of surgical complications and a faster recovery compared to all other methods.

The surgery is suitable for cases of cervical disc herniation, disc herniation of the thoracic spine or lumbar spine, and it usually saves the need for extensive cutting and fixation of the vertebrae.