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The rapid development of technology has brought about radical changes in the methods used to treat patients across all fields of medical science.

Keeping pace with these developments, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is gradually opening new horizons in the surgical treatment of common Spinal conditions, such as Spinal Stenosis and Herniated Intervertebral Disc (HID).

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery (PTES) is one of the leading representatives of these new techniques.

Unlike other open surgical methods, Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery offers a wide range of benefits for the patient, automatically making it the preferred method for treating the conditions mentioned above.

More specifically, among other advantages:

• It is performed under local anesthesia and controlled sedation, making it ideal for special categories of patients (patients with Heart Failure, Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Neurodegenerative Disorders, as well as patients with Lateral Spinal Stenosis), for whom undergoing conventional open surgery under general anesthesia would be considered high risk

• It provides the benefits of endoscopy, namely direct visualization of the pathology and reduced intraoperative tissue trauma. In this way, perioperative morbidity and length of hospital stay are reduced (the patient may even be discharged on the same day as surgery)

• It is performed through a single 8 mm incision, minimizing the risk of infection and without requiring a significant healing process, unlike conventional open techniques

• The patient’s recovery and return to daily activities are significantly accelerated.

As mentioned above, Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery is an ideal treatment method for spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis.

What, however, is spinal stenosis?

What are its symptoms and who does it affect?

The term spinal stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal, namely the canal formed by the vertebrae through which the nerves responsible for sensation and movement in our arms and legs pass.

The narrowing may occur in the cervical spine, thoracic spine or lower back and, depending on its location, may cause numbness and weakness in the upper and/or lower limbs. It occurs with equal frequency in both sexes, mainly after the age of 50.

The main cause of spinal stenosis is the degeneration of the vertebrae over the years.

The result of this degenerative disease is the development of bone spurs and osteoarthritis which, when present, compress the nerves.

Other causes of spinal stenosis include Herniated Intervertebral Discs (HID), ankylosis, the development of tumors and fractures.

In this case as well, the use of the Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery method is considered the most appropriate option, offering patients all the benefits compared with open surgery. According to the results of two studies by Mr. St. Kapetanakis and his colleagues, published in the Asian Spine Journal and the Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine in 2018 and 2019, application of the method produced encouraging results in 150 patients with spinal stenosis. All patients were discharged the day after surgery.

The results showed that, both in otherwise healthy middle-aged patients and in elderly patients with severe comorbid conditions (coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and respiratory failure), the application of PTES was associated with statistically and clinically significant improvements in pain levels and quality of life 2 years after surgery.

At this point, it should be emphasized that following the return to normality, we must safeguard our health in cases where we may have neglected it due to prevailing circumstances. The broader hospital environment, organized facilities and personalized treatment, as provided and implemented at the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, as well as at all clinics of Athens Medical Group, should constitute key criteria when choosing a physician.

At every hospital of the Group, special protective measures against COVID-19 cases were implemented very early on and continue to be applied and updated for as long as necessary. In this way, the clinics continue to operate without interruption, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in accordance with the strictest approved healthcare protocols.