I took the plunge:
Having gone through the learning curve of lumbar endoscopic surgery and seeing the tremendous power and benefit of endoscopy in the spine, I finally performed my first giant thoracic discectomy two weeks ago.
I had seen live cases during the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) traveling fellowship and gotten my hands dirty in multiple labs, but there is no risk of paralysis or pneumothorax in an unalive patient. I was afraid to get my feet wet (pun intended). It took the right patient, the right time, and the right amount of confidence from my lumbar experience to get there.
First procedure of this type performed in the state. I had been referring to my colleagues in Nashville and St. Louis, but why should my fellow citizens in Alabama not have access to world class care?
Full and honest informed consent with my patient. I gave him options of out of state referrals. Previously in my hands, this surgery would have been a very morbid transpedicular corpectomy with fusion. Gratefully, he chose to trust me for his surgery.
We did our game week prep. Arthrex with their commendable physican support and resources, provided me a cadaver lab dry run the night prior to my surgery to lock in our technique. John O. Ogunlade, DO FCNS, one of the best in the industry, walked me through the salient technical details with his vast experience and was helpful with every question I had. Meng Huang Jang Yoon, MD, MSc, FAANS, FCNS Patrick Kim helped give me the confidence to believe.
Patient left the hospital POD1 with no complaints. Just saw him back at his 2 week visit and he is doing exceptionally well and thankful. Previously his legs would go numb every time he laid down, which was resolved immediately postop. He is back to living his routine life and preparing to return to his work in heavy machinery.
Gamechanger.