Chronic low back pain and sciatica can significantly reduce your quality of life, and sometimes, conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medication, and infiltrations are not enough to alleviate this pain.
In these cases, epidural endoscopy, or epiduroscopy, is a precise, minimally invasive technique that can be an effective option for identifying and treating the causes of the pain.
What is epiduroscopy?
Epiduroscopy is a procedure in which the specialist accesses the epidural space using a catheter though which a tiny camera is inserted. With the direct visualization of the nerve structures, the specialist can detect adhesions, fibrosis or inflammation that may be causing the patient’s symptoms.
With this technique, it is possible to make a very precise diagnosis of the source of the pain, and to perform treatment during the same procedure.
When is epiduroscopy considered?
Epiduroscopy may be considered for patients with the following conditions:
- Persistent chronic low back pain.
- Sciatica or radiculopathy.
- Epidural fibrosis following spine surgery.
- Failed back surgery syndrome.
- Pain that does not improve with conservative treatments or infiltrations.
Treatments performed using epiduroscopy
During the procedure, the specialist can:
- Remove adhesions and scar tissue compressing nerve roots.
- Perform treatment to reduce inflammation
- Deliver medication directly to the point of need.
All in a focused, minimally invasive manner.
Epiduroscopy and pulsed radiofrequency
In some cases, epiduroscopy can be combined with epidural pulsed radiofrequency, a technique that helps modulate pain transmission without causing significant damage to nerve tissues.
This combination of techniques makes it possible to attack the pain from various perspectives: mechanical, inflammatory and neuropathic.
Key benefits
Among the benefits epiduroscopy offers, are:
- Direct, real-time visualization of the affected area
- Diagnosis and treatment in the same procedure.
- More precise treatment adapted to the specific case.
- Recovery time is generally fast.
- Low rate of complications when performed by experienced specialists.
Would you like to find out if epiduroscopy is right for you?
At Instituto Clavel’s Pain Unit, our team of specialists studies each case on a personal, individualized basis to determine the best therapeutic option for the patient.
Book an appointment with our specialists and find out if epiduroscopy may be right for you.
Dr. Iliana Vega
Anesthesiologist and pain management specialist
Categories: Spine treatments, Techniques, Pain Management