Anyone who has dealt with chronic back pain knows that relief isn’t easy to find. While a myriad of conservative treatment options exist, including medication therapy, physical therapy, and steroid injections — many patients still struggle to achieve long-term relief without surgery. Yet, most patients are hesitant to undergo a major operation due to the many uncertainties around risks/complications, incisions and scars, recovery time, and long-term outcomes.

Fortunately for Althea Parker, advances in endoscopic technology are making it possible for patients with chronic back and spine pain to have what some refer to as ‘back surgery without the surgery.’ If it sounds too good to be true — it’s not. WakeMed North Hospital is proud to partner with spine surgeon, Dr. Adedayo Ashana to bring a new, minimally-invasive technique to help patients get the relief they need — without the risks and complications that come with traditional surgical techniques.

Althea’s Endoscopic Spine Surgery Journey

As long as Althea can remember, being active has been an important part of her daily life. With a love of softball, aerobics and racquetball, Althea enjoys being on her feet — even at the age of 70. Sadly, she’s been battling chronic back pain for decades with minimal relief — a debilitating pain that has worsened over the years, making it difficult to maintain the active lifestyle she loves.

“Over the past two years, the pain had gotten so severe that I just couldn’t take it anymore,” Parker explains. “I never knew when it would hit me — I’d be out walking and a crushing pain would stop me dead in my tracks. I’d fall down on my knees, unable to move and the only way I could get relief was to lay down on my side,” she explains.

Without the ability to predict when the pain would strike, Althea’s quality of life and ability to go out and enjoy daily activities began to suffer. That’s when she turned to the team at Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina (OrthoNC).

Their first approach to helping Althea was to administer epidural steroid injections, which provided very short-lived relief. Next, she consulted with Dr. Adedayo Ashana, who explained endoscopic spine surgery as a minimally-invasive option that could help decompress her disc herniation and address her spinal stenosis — with a tiny incision measuring just a few millimeters.

“The thought of having major back surgery was terrifying for me,” explains Althea. “I had seen and heard all the horror stories, and even had a family member who underwent that type of procedure. I watched her battle a major recovery and lasting symptoms — so I was absolutely not interested in an open surgical procedure. When I heard about this new minimally-invasive technique, I was immediately intrigued.”

Althea explains that she had many, many questions for Dr. Ashana, but that he and his team addressed all of her concerns with patience and empathy. Soon, she was ready for surgery.

In February 2022, Althea underwent an endoscopic laminectomy and microdiscectomy — procedures designed to address both her spinal stenosis and disc herniation. Her results have been life-altering.

“When I arrived at WakeMed North Hospital, I was so nervous — but the entire process was just like a beautiful symphony,” Althea explains. “The nurses were so magnificent, I wanted to send them a thank-you card, and my procedure went smoothly and without complication.”

Althea enjoyed a speedy recovery. Today, she’s benefiting from water therapy, and is getting back to the activities she loves. “I had no idea you could get relief like this without major surgery. My surgical site is so small that it literally looks like a tiny little butterfly. And here I am, doing yoga, pilates, water therapy — and getting into pickleball. I am so thankful for this procedure, Dr. Ashana and the entire care team at WakeMed North Hospital.”

Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Explained

Endoscopic spine surgery is the latest, advanced, state-of-the-art form of minimally invasive spine surgery designed to provide the patient a quicker recovery time and less recurring pain than traditional spine surgery methods. This is a very novel procedure practiced by less than three percent of all spine surgeons in the United States. 

To perform an ESS, the surgeon makes a tiny incision (less than one inch), and then uses small endoscopic cameras that give the surgeon a better view of targeted areas of the spine during the surgical procedure (image is projected onto a large TV monitor during surgery). 

In some cases, the ESS procedure can be performed using regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, decreasing overall medical risks in patients who are older and/or have co-existing medical disorders that may increase surgical risk.

Endoscopic spine surgery should not be confused with traditional procedures — such as minimally invasive, micro invasive and/or laser spine surgeries. In the experienced hands of a spine surgeon who regularly performs endoscopic spine surgery, this approach is associated with many potential benefits, including:

•  Minimal to no soft tissue damage or trauma (eg, skin tissue-to-muscle injury or damage)
• Minimal blood loss
•  Significantly less post-operative discomfort or pain 
• Faster recovery and healing

However, ESS may not be appropriate for all spine surgery indications, such as scoliosis, spinal instability, cancer, or trauma. In those types of cases, the surgeon may recommend other (more traditional) spine surgery procedures.

Endoscopic spine surgery is the least invasive option we’ve ever been able to offer our patients — and the benefits are remarkable. The cameras give us the best view of spinal anatomy that we’ve ever had, which leads to better precision and accuracy, and improved surgical outcomes. Lastly, the tiny incision means we don’t have to cut through muscle or bone, leading to far less pain and faster recovery times. This approach provides a whole new world of opportunity for us as surgeons, and more importantly, for our patients.