Thanks to progress in the implant development modern spinal disk prostheses are optimally suited for anatomical and functional conditions within the cervical spine. They hence allow for natural mobility - preserving the whole range of motion of the cervical spine.
Additionally they have a similar bumper character as the natural spinal disk...
Degeneration of spinal disks can lead to severe chronic or intermittent back pain with or without radiations into the legs. This pain can have considerable impact on daily life activities.
Many patients with degenerative spine disease had disk prolapses in their previous medical history. Whereas on x-ray images disk degeneration will not be readily detectable, the degenerative structures can be clearly seen on magnetic resonance images.
Endoscopic surgery has proved of value not only for discectomy but also for many other back problems. With this minimally invasive technique all kinds of herniated disks may be removed in a very tissue-preserving way. It may help also with chronic back problems that result from disk protrusions or tears.
in an endoscopic disk surgery only the herniated material is removed under local anesthesia and not the entire disk replaced by a cage, artificial disk or bone graft as is common practice?
The natural mobility and stability of the cervical spine is maintained.
In fact, this surgical procedure is analogous to the discectomy of the lumbar spine where also only the herniated tissue is removed and not the entire disk replaced by an artificial placeholder.
If severe pain and neurological symptoms cannot be controlled by conservative care a surgical intervention will be necessary. Aim of the discectomy is to remove the extruded disk tissue and to decompress or to completely set free the pinched nerve.
We carry out all disk surgeries endoscopically! With almost 5.500 endoscopic discectomies Dr. Schubert is internationally one of the leading and most experienced spine surgeons.
in 90% of all herniated disks no surgery is needed?
If however after 4-6 weeks there is no relieve of back or leg pain or additional neurological signs (muscle weakness, bladder or bowel dysfunction) appear, more detailed diagnostics are necessary to find appropriate treatment.
Weakness or numbness in the leg or foot, however are warning signals for a more serious condition.
In comparison to most clinics (more than 95% of spine surgery departments in Europe) at the APES SPINE center the diagnosis of a herniated disk does not mean a big open back surgery with long in-patient rehabilitation.
I needed to tell just one sentence and diagnosis was established and then also confirmed by imaging techniques. Neither the orthopedic specialist nor the radiologist I had visited before, had identified the herniated disc. They told me to do some sports and that surgery would not help. Immediately after the surgery in the ATOS clinic, my symptoms disappeared and I was also pain free. Absolute number 1 address for spinal disc problems.
