Journal of clinical laser medicine & surgery
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J Clin Laser Med Surg · Apr 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEndoscopic foraminoplasty: a prospective study on 250 consecutive patients with independent evaluation.
This study focused on the efficacy of endoscopic decompression of the foramen guided by endoscopic aware-state pain source definition. ⋯ Endoscopic laser foraminoplasty provides a minimalist means of exploring the extraforaminal zone, the foramen, the disc, and the epidural space and performing discectomy, lateral recess decompression, osteophytectomy, and neural mobilization. Performed in the aware state, it serves to identify and localize precisely the causal source of pain in multilevel disc disease, in revision surgery, and in the infirm and elderly without open fusion or decompression.