Intervertebral foramenoscopic surgery is a type of minimally invasive spinal surgery. The main disadvantages include limitations of the surgery itself and fewer indications for the surgery.
1. Limitations of the surgery itself: Intervertebral foramenoscopy is performed by means of minimally invasive foramenoscope, so the exposure of surgical field is small, and when patients with combined spinal stenosis, lateral saphenous fossa stenosis, and ligamentous calcification undergo intervertebral foramenoscopy, it is not possible to completely relieve the compression of the spinal cord or the peripheral nerve roots in the spinal canal, which is a disadvantage.
2. Fewer indications for surgery: Intervertebral foramenoscopy is generally only suitable for simple disc herniation or ligamentous hypertrophy, and is best for young patients. If the patient’s herniated disc is combined with spinal stenosis or space-occupying lesions inside or outside the spinal canal, it is not possible to perform intervertebral foramenoscopy surgery. Thus the relatively few indications for intervertebral foramenoscopy surgery is one of the disadvantages.
Therefore, the specific way of surgery needs to be evaluated by a professional doctor to give the most suitable surgical plan for the patient.