Endoscopic Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Under Lateral Decubitus Position with Local Anesthesia.

Abstract

Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy is gaining popularity among endoscopic spine surgeons for the treatment of radiculopathy caused by foraminal stenosis. This study describes a technique using the lateral decubitus position for endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy under monitored anesthesia care and local anesthesia only. A total of 10 patients with contraindications to general anesthesia underwent the procedure, resulting in improvement in cervical radicular pain with no perioperative complications. The findings suggest that this approach is a viable alternative for patients at high risk of general anesthesia care, expanding the surgical options for the treatment of radiculopathy.