Experts focus on advantages of endoscopic spine surgery at 2025 Herche Lectureship for Surgical Innovation
Endoscopic spine surgery is a promising innovation that dramatically improves visibility into the surgical target area, nationally known neurosurgeons Dr. Daniel Kim and Dr. Jacky Yeung said July 25 at the opening of the Herche Lectureship in Surgical Innovation. The event is presented by the Mayfield Education & Research Foundation.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the visualization you get with the endoscope is superb," said Herche Lecturer Dr. Kim, neurosurgeon and director of the Peripheral Nerve Surgery Program at McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas. "This can be part of your skill set to incorporate into your spine practice."
The practice of using an endoscope, a rigid tube with a camera about the size of a straw used to examine the inside of the body, has been common for years in different types of surgery. It can be an alternative to traditional open surgery or the standard technique of using a microscope. But neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons are only starting to explore its potential in spine surgery. As technological advances are making minimally invasive spine surgery safer and more effective, more surgeons are considering the endoscope to reduce recovery times and improve the experience for both patients and surgeons.
Herche Lecturer Dr. Yeung, a neurosurgeon at the Yale University School of Medicine, said a "keyhole approach" using the endoscope can help the patient in different ways, including through continuous irrigation and less invasive techniques.
"The farther away the target is, the smaller the incision needs to be," he said.
The Mayfield Foundation launched the Herche Lectureship in 2024, thanks to a generous donation from David and Wendy Herche, bringing some of the nation's leading clinicians and experts to Cincinnati for presentations and hands-on dissection lab sessions in the Mayfield Surgical Innovation Center. The course is attended by residents, fellows and practicing physicians. The Herche Lectures are one part of the Foundation's mission to help train the next generation of neurosurgeons and support leading-edge research from the clinicians of Mayfield Brain & Spine, one of the nation's premier independent neurosurgery practices.
"The future of spine surgery depends on constant innovation, creating and testing solutions that can serve patients," Mayfield spine surgeon Dr. Ryan Godinsky said. "With leading experts and the opportunity to work with those experts in the lab, the Herche Lectureship is having a significant impact."
The program also included:
- Dr. William Tobler, a retired Mayfield neurosurgeon and chairman of the Mayfield Foundation, presented on "Evolution of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery."
- Dr. Godinsky spoke on "Why Embrace a Transition to Endoscopy?"
Dr. Tobler opened the Herche Lectureship with a review of the "innovation curve" and Mayfield's history of innovation. He said endoscopic spine surgery has reached a tipping point.
"It is the ultimate minimally invasive spine surgery, in my opinion," Dr. Tobler said. "I think the time has arrived for endoscopic spine surgery to become more mainstream."
About the Mayfield Education & Research Foundation: The Mayfield Education & Research Foundation is an affiliated non-profit of Mayfield Brain & Spine. It collaborates with partners throughout the industry on leading-edge research on complex cranial and spine disorders. The Foundation also operates the Mayfield Surgical Innovation Center, an advanced training center for medical residents, fellows and other training programs. Founded in 1937, Mayfield Brain & Spine is a nationally known independent neurosurgery practice, with 20 neurosurgeons, one orthopedic spine surgeon and six physicians specializing in interventional pain treatments or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Mayfield surgeons and providers served more than 32,700 patients in 2024.
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