How does intervertebral foraminoscopy treat herniated discs?

Minimally invasive treatment methods include radiofrequency ablation of intervertebral discs, ozone ablation of intervertebral discs, nerve root block, etc. However, the above methods are indirect decompression, only for some cases of inclusive herniation, and cannot completely remove the diseased nucleus pulposus, especially the tissue compressing the nerve, and the necrotic tissue needs to be absorbed naturally by the body, which is long, painful and has a high recurrence rate. The common surgical treatment methods are: removal of the nucleus pulposus with small openings, hemivertebral laminectomy and decompression, internal fixation of the vertebral arch, and artificial disc implantation. The purpose of surgical treatment is to remove the herniated disc so that the compressed nerve can regain free space. The type of surgery performed is determined by the location and extent (size) of the herniated disc and other accompanying problems (such as spinal stenosis, arthritis, etc.). The surgical procedures include: endoscopic discectomy, microscopic discectomy, small incision discectomy, discectomy combined with interspinous elastic internal fixation, discectomy combined with arch nail internal fixation with bone graft fusion, etc. Surgical removal of the herniated disc is a direct decompression, but the surgery is traumatic, risky and expensive, and also has a high recurrence rate of pain (inflammatory irritation, bloody irritation, tissue adhesions and other reasons), in addition, some patients still have pain symptoms after having surgery, and even new postoperative back pain (low back surgical pain syndrome), long-term oral pain medication or nerve block and other treatments in the pain department. Therefore, many patients with cervical and lumbar disc herniation desire an ideal method that is non-invasive, less invasive, less painful, faster recovery, more effective, safe and simple. The purpose of minimally invasive spine technology (non-discoscopic) is to remove the herniated or prolapsed disc tissue and grind away the hyperplastic bone spurs outside the disc’s fibrous annulus to relieve the pressure on the nerve roots and eliminate the pain caused by nerve compression. The procedure is performed through a minimally invasive spine surgery system consisting of a specially designed intervertebral foramoscope, corresponding minimally invasive spine surgery instruments, an imaging system, and a dual-frequency radiofrequency machine. While the herniated or prolapsed nucleus pulposus is completely removed, osteophytes are removed, spinal stenosis is treated, and the broken annulus fibrosus can be repaired using radiofrequency technology. The use of foraminoscopy allows for precise direct vision surgery of the disc without touching healthy tissue. Minimally invasive spine surgery is performed outside of the annulus fibrosus, thus maintaining the greatest degree of annular integrity and spinal stability, resulting in the least traumatic and most effective patient outcome of any procedure of its kind. Minimally invasive foraminoscopic spine technology represents a new concept of minimally invasive spine surgery. It can perform herniated discs, foraminoplasty and fibular ring repair in all segments of the cervical and lumbar spine. The satisfactory outcome of the surgery can reach 85% – 90%. Because of its many advantages, foraminoscopy is now recognized as the leading minimally invasive procedure in international spine surgery, as is arthroscopy for herniated discs.