Dr. Bryan Massoud: Getting Started with Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Spine
Jaimie Oh -

At the 2011 Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago, Bryan Massoud, MD, of Spine Centers of America, shared a presentation on the growing field of endoscopic spine surgery.

Dr. Massoud, who has been performing endoscopic spine surgery for nearly five years, said the field of endoscopic spine surgery was previously not well-received by the public and was viewed as a sort of "voodoo." However, acceptance of the technique is growing as the healthcare industry begins to understand the benefits.

The driving force behind endoscopic spine surgery is technology. A new generation of endoscopes and advances in instruments now allows orthopedic, spine and pain management physicians to achieve the same outcomes as open surgeries without the large incisions.

Other physicians who are interested in learning how to perform endoscopic spine surgery can mitigate the learning curve by observing other physicians who already perform these surgeries and learning the technique through classes or partnerships.

Dr. Massoud also shared estimated start-up costs, which can be upwards of $250,000 with a full package of basic equipment and supplies. In addition, endoscopic spine surgery could call for another $20,000 for a radiolucent table and another $100,000 for super C equipment, he said.

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