So far in 2025, several spine surgeons and healthcare facilities have seen debut milestones in endoscopic spine surgery.
1. Martinsburg, W.Va.-based WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center performed its first endoscopic spine procedure. The operation was performed by Adolfo Viloria, MD, a neurosurgeon with the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
2. Andrew Chung, MD, performed the first biportal endoscopic spinal fusion with Medtronic’s Mazor robot.
3. Cleveland-based University Hospitals began offering endoscopic spine surgery. Xiaofei (Sophie) Zhou, MD, completed the hospital’s first endoscopic discectomy in January.
4. Eric Gee, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at SGMC Health Smith Northview in Valdosta, Ga., has performed the system’s first endoscopic spine surgery.
5. A medical team at Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Ga., has completed the system’s first ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery.
6. Matt Miller, MD, performed Nebraska’s first minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery at Omaha-based OrthoNebraska Hospital.
7. Don Park, MD, of Irvine, Calif.-based UCI Health, performed the world’s first endoscopic spinal fusion using augmented reality.
8. Daniel Choi, MD, performed the first Barricaid annular closure implantation with an endoscopic approach.
