Spine surgeons predict 'tremendous growth' in endoscopy over the next 10 years
By Admin | December 15, 2022
Despite pushback from payers and some reimbursement and training obstacles, many spine surgeons expect endoscopic spine surgery to become more prominent in the U.S. over the next decade.
Eleven spine surgeons from independent practices and health systems across the country discuss what's next for endoscopic spine surgery.
Question: How will endoscopic spine surgery evolve in the US over the next decade?
Vik Mehta, MD. Hoag Hospital (Newport Beach, Calif.): There will be tremendous growth in endoscopic spine surgery over the next decade. Faster recovery time, less pain and better relief of symptoms will be primary drivers behind the growth of this approach. Additionally, as fusions come under more pressure from patients and payers, more proven techniques such as decompressions to achieve relief of pain will come to the forefront. We have many patients in their 70s, 80s and even 90s who remain highly active with degenerative lumbar disease and stenosis as a primary pain generator. Providers who can safely and effectively help these patients get back to an active life using endoscopic and other minimally invasive techniques will be quite busy.
Sheyan Armaghani, MD. Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: With improvements in optics, navigation and instrumentation, I wouldn't be surprised if endoscopic surgery became the standard for most, if not all, disk herniations and single level stenosis cases. As more teaching institutions begin to adopt the technique, you will also see more surgeons making it a part of their practice. This is already the case in many countries, especially in Asia. More long-term data needs...(More)
For more info please read, Spine surgeons predict 'tremendous growth' in endoscopy over the next 10 years, by Becker's Spine Review
