“Endoscopic spine surgery bridges the gap between pain management and traditional spine surgery,” said Dr. Yeung.
According to Dr. Yeung, pain management physicians and spine surgeons think differently about how to treat the patient with back pain. Both disciplines, however, should consider moderation in practice. “For example,” said Dr. Yeung, “Don’t do the last thing first. For spine surgeons, this means don’t do fusion until you have to.”
“It’s not good enough to be a good technician. You have to know why you’re doing the surgery you have chosen to do,” he added.
Understanding exactly how close one can operate to the extremes is something that comes from a lifetime of practice, according to Dr. Yeung. For surgeons who commit to learning the technique, it is a journey, but it is a journey that is well worth it, Dr. Yeung noted. “Surgeon understanding, experience and skill are critical,” he added.
