endoscopic spinal surgery
For patients that need a surgical procedure, Mr Hess offers minimally invasive, endoscopic spinal surgery. Simply put, this means faster recovery, less time in hospital and a better outcome for you.
The benefits of endoscopic spinal surgery are numerous, and for patients who are suitable candidates, it is a far superior option to traditional surgery.
Endoscopic spinal surgery is not widely available in the UK. However, as an internationally trained and experienced surgeon, Mr Hess has been performing endoscopic surgery in other countries for over 15 years and has performed over 3500 of these procedures.
Mr Hess is Master Instructor with the Spine Intervention Society; a specialist organisation dedicated to setting technical standards and methods for precision diagnosis and best practice in spinal pain management.
Insight Spine UK is dedicated to providing the most appropriate and conservative treatment to ease your pain. Mr Hess will always offer the most conservative treatment required for your condition, with surgery usually reserved for the last resort where non-invasive treatments have not been successful or are not appropriate.
The first step on the journey is to have an initial consultation with Mr Hess to discuss your individual case.
Conditions we treat
Back pain is of course the most common symptom we treat, and it can be caused by a wide variety of things. We often treat patients with:
- Disc herniations and spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine (slipped disc or trapped nerve). 95% of slipped discs are suitable for endoscopic surgery, this is an individual decision and the scans need to be seen
- Osteoporotic vertebral fractures
- Back pain and sciatica
- Neck and arm pain, including headache coming from the cervical spine
- Second opinion to discuss recommended surgeries
Why endoscopic surgery?
Endoscopic surgery is the least invasive option currently available. The endoscope is a thin tube with a tiny video camera on it. This allows Mr Hess to see what he needs to without opening you up. It’s used alongside very precise instruments that allow Mr Hess to perform the procedure using just a few holes in your back. All of this provides huge benefits to you as the patient.
No general anaesthetic needed
Usually only sedation and local anaesthetic is needed
Minimal trauma and tiny incision
No muscles are cut, bleeding and scarring is minimised
Lower risk of infection and complications
A minimal risk of infection, immediate or long-term complications
Home the same day as surgery
Most surgery is undertaken as a day-case procedure
Less post-operative pain
Endoscopic surgery means less pain through your recovery
Back to life quicker with faster recovery
Much faster recovery vs alternative surgical procedures
Any questions?
Feel free to get in touch or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Risks & Complications
Any intervention carries risk, but the endoscopic treatments that Mr Hess provides are classified as “low risk”.
Any intervention should only be considered when conservative care with exercise, physical therapy and pain-killers have failed, and where pain remains significant.
Whilst endoscopic surgery is a great option for many, not every patient is suitable for this procedure. Probably around 90% of patients that are candidates for surgery can have endoscopic surgery.
Not every case is a success. The advantage of endoscopic treatment is also its weakness: minimal access. Sometimes it isn’t possible to achieve the treatment intended for a number of reasons. However, this isn’t common.
To date, Insight Spine patients have had no major complications and no conversion to open surgery required.
If you are a suitable candidate for surgery, Mr Hess will have a full discussion about risks and benefits with you during your consultations.