A Uniquely Innovative Surgical Procedure Technology for the Treatment of Disc Rupture is now Available at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center

Lower back pain is an affliction prevalent among the general population. The pain  may be attributed to injury to the intra-vertebral discs. These discs protrude, causing pressure on the spinal nerves and pain. The pain often radiates to the legs, or causes loss of sensation or muscular weakness.

When conventional treatment does not bring relief, there is a surgical option. During surgery the protruding disc causing pressure on the spinal nerve is resected. This conventional surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and complications can develop, such as damage to the back muscles, loss of blood or infection.  Convalescence is lengthy, and takes from one to three months.

In the Sheba Orthopedic Division, Spinal Surgery Unit, headed by Prof. Jacob Nerobay, a uniquely innovative surgical treatment technology is now offered. This minimally invasive surgical procedure is performed utilizing an endoscopic approach for resection of the protruding disc. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and lasts about an hour.

During the procedure a small, one cm long, incision is made and under radiology imaging the endoscope is inserted into to the disc space. The endoscope serves both as an imaging instrument, imaging the nerve system, and as a surgical instrument. A few hours after surgery the patient is discharged to rest at home and within two weeks he or she can resume normal activities.

This kind of procedure has been performed successfully for the last decade in Europe and in the USA. The success rate is above 90% and complication rate is minute.  Dr. Moshe Levinkopf and Dr. Israel Caspi have completed overseas specialization in this surgical procedure and it is now being performed in the Spinal Surgery Unit at the Sheba Medical Center. Because of its high safety rating, the excellent outcome of procedures, the low level of complications, and the speedy convalescence period, this innovative surgery technique is fast replacing the more conventional spinal surgery procedures