Percutaneous endoscopic spine surgery differs from other minimally invasive spinal techniques because of use of the spinal endoscope. With the development and improvement of endoscopic optical technology, endoscopic surgical techniques and instrumentation, central, paracentral, foraminal and far lateral lumbar disc herniation can now be treated by endoscopic techniques. Endoscopic systems are also used for posterior interlaminar lumbar decompression, anterior and posterior cervical discectomy. Some unilevel lumbar stenosis may be treated by the endoscopic techniques as well. Although the surgical indications for endoscopic techniques are evolving, there are many potential complications, such as nerve root injury, durotomy, infection, retro-peritoneal cavity injury, cauda equine injury, great vessel injury, muscular hematoma, re-herniation, piriformis syndrome, and/or epidural hematoma. So, the endoscopic spine surgery can only be practiced after the completion of learning curve which could be improved throu

作者：杨惠林；孟斌；吴凯伦

来源：中国骨与关节杂志 2016 年 5卷 5期