Transforaminal Endoscopic Approach for a High-Risk Patient With an Existing Infection

Paul Houle, MD (Hyannis, MA), shares a case involving a 78-year-old male patient at high surgical risk, suffering from incapacitating pain due to discitis with bony endplate destruction at L2-L3 and an associated epidural phlegmon. To alleviate the patient’s pain and provide comfort to both the patient and his family, Dr. Houle performed a right L2-L3 transforaminal endoscopic discectomy without general anesthesia.