title: [Endoscopy of the spine: minimally invasive therapy].
abstract: Since 1982 discoscopy has proved its value as a mean of continuous optic control of percutaneous intradiscal procedures. Thus, precisely oriented removal of disc tissue became possible for posterior decompression. Since 1989, discoscopy has opened the way for optically controlled intradiscal laser application. Besides decompressive procedures, since 1988 specific elaboration of the vertebral plates for percutaneous interbody fusion has also become available under discoscopic control. A most promising prospect is the technique of foraminoscopy introduced in 1991, which also opened the way to extradiscal exploration. The further development of versatile fine working scopes will be a bigger and bigger challenge to conventional techniques, as the concept of minimal intervention in spine surgery becomes more and more complete.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Balgrist, Zürich.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D019723:Endoscopes; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation
vernacular_title: Endoskopie der Wirbelsäule: minimal-invasive Therapie.