What are the risks and complications of endoscopic spinal surgery?
Endoscopic spine surgery is very safe, and the complication rate is very low. The most common complication we see is discitis, or an infection of the disc space after a discectomy. The incidence of discitis is similar to conventional surgery and is around 2%. Other risks include dural leak, nerve damage, bleeding, etc. but these are very rare. Blood loss during these procedures is usually less than 100 cc and thus is minimal. Such minimal blood loss would never require a transfusion. Nonetheless, as with any surgery, complications are possible, and we will gladly discuss your concerns with you.
