Anthony Yeung, MD, introduced the Kambin technique in China in 1998, and the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System technique, as a percutaneous technique both surgeons and non-surgeons with surgical training have adopted to treat degenerative spine conditions. The study authors examined the procedure and found:
1. Since 1998, Chinese surgeons and opinion leaders in the Chinese associations have made contributions to the endoscopic technique.
2. A significant percentage of the Chinese population continues to seek traditional treatment even though Western medicine options are available.
3. The surgeons and non-surgeons in China work together on modern surgical techniques and “recognize that with endoscopic spine surgery, it is important to maintain a success rate comparable to traditional western open surgery with less surgical morbidity utilizing the endoscope.”
4. Chinese surgeons and researchers continue to produce peer-reviewed papers with evidence based medicine guidelines of Western journals.
5. Dr. Yeung coined the phrase “surgical pain management” to describe interventions used by the spine surgeons and non-surgical pain physicians. “Future developments will continue to drive the adoption of endoscopic surgery as a significant advancement for Chinese medicine and surgery,” concluded the article authors.
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