Endoscopic Medial Facetectomy and Decompression Release Locked Facet Joint and Correcting Degenerative Spine Deformity

Abstract

Multilevel spine degenerative deformity should be described in 3 column theory of lumbar degenerative cascade to detect completely the degenerative damages or deformers. Theory of degenerative spine deformity is a combination between 2 factors: 1. spine stabilizer (disc, 2 facet joints, anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament, supraspinatus ligament, multifidus muscle) and 2. Spine deformer (degenerative damages). Normal facet joint is a gliding joint in flexion, rotation, and lateral bending, in degenerative facet joint the hypertrophy will lock the joint function in deformity.

The concept of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery is removing the deformers with decompression, release locked facet joint through medial facetectomy and retain the stabilizers. After locked facet released and deformers are removed, the stabilizer’s function is reapplied, and the deformity can be corrected naturally.