Endoscopic Cervical Decompression

What is Endoscopic Cervical Decompression?

Endoscopic cervical decompression is an ultra-minimally invasive procedure that uses a pencil-thin telescope to decompress nerves in the cervical spine through tiny incisions.

When It's Used

Cervical radiculopathy (arm pain from nerve compression)
Cervical disc herniation
Foraminal stenosis
Lateral recess stenosis
Selected cases of cervical myelopathy

The Procedure

Pencil-thin endoscope (7-8mm diameter)
Tiny incision (less than 1 inch)
Direct visualization of nerve compression
Precise removal of disc material or bone spurs
Minimal tissue disruption
Procedure time: 30-90 minutes

Advantages

Minimal Invasiveness

Smallest possible incision
No muscle cutting
Minimal tissue trauma

Faster Recovery

Same-day discharge
Rapid return to activities
Less post-operative pain

Motion Preservation

No fusion required
Full neck motion maintained
No adjacent level stress

Precision

Direct visualization
Targeted decompression
Minimal bone removal

Success Rate

85-95% arm pain relief
90% patient satisfaction
Low recurrence rate
Excellent long-term outcomes

Recovery Timeline

Surgery day: Same-day discharge (2-4 hours)
Day 1-3: Light activities, minimal restrictions
Week 1: Return to desk work possible
Week 2-3: Most normal activities
Week 4-6: Full unrestricted activity

Hospital Stay

Outpatient procedure - same-day discharge

Ideal Candidates

Single-level cervical disc herniation
Foraminal stenosis
Failed conservative treatment
Good general health
Motivated for early mobilization

Risks (Very Rare)

Nerve injury (<0.5%)
Infection (<0.5%)
Bleeding (<0.5%)
Incomplete decompression (2-5%)
Recurrent herniation (5-10%)

Why Choose Endoscopic Approach?

Fastest recovery of all cervical procedures
No fusion means no motion loss
Minimal scarring
Lower complication rates
Cost-effective due to outpatient nature

Questions About Endoscopic Cervical Decompression?

Dr. Greenberg is an expert in endoscopic spine procedures with exceptional outcomes.

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