title: Percutaneous Fully Endoscopic İnterlaminar Approach to the Filum Terminale: A Cadaveric Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the utility, safety, and feasibility of a novel endoscopic technique for the visualization and surgical manipulation of the filum terminale in fresh postmortem adult human cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The filums from 18 fresh postmortem adult human cadavers were explored with a percutaneous fully endoscopic interlaminar approach. After the filum was identified and the nerve roots were dissected away from it, the filum was cut. A specimen was sent for histopathologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 15 of 18 (83%) cadavers, the filum terminale could be visualized. A specimen for histopathologic examination was obtained from 11 of 15 (73%) visualized filums. Histopathologic examination revealed that 2 of them were fatty filums, 7 were normal filums, and 2 were peripheral nerves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have described a successful and feasible percutaneous fully endoscopic interlaminar approach to the filum terminale. This technique provides a smaller skin incision, narrow durotomy, and minimal tissue damage. Animal studies are necessary to prove the feasibility and safety of our method before clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Private Asia Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Güven
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Yörükoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Iğdır State Hospital, Iğdır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alican
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Liv Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: moakcakaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet Osman
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Akçakaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pulat Akın
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sabancı
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydoseli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Müge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolgun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Altay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hepgül
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000601:surgery; D012447:Sacrum / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Filum terminale; Interlaminar; Minimal invasive spine surgery; Spinal endoscopy; Tethered cord syndrome; Untethering