The predecessor of endoscopic surgery, arthroscopic microdiscectomy (AMD) was first introduced to China in the 1990s after its introduction in Japan, Germany and the United States in the 1980s ( - ). Endoscopic Spine surgery, however, did not flourish in China until Anthony Yeung introduced his YESS™ procedure in Beijing. Zou published the preliminary report of spine endoscopy for lumbar disc herniation in 1998 ( ). Subsequently, more Chinese physicians were trained by Dr. Yeung, and the YESS™ technique (inside-out) was recognized and practiced by more and more orthopedic spine surgeons ( ). Later, the THESYS™ technique was introduced to China using the outside-in method to target the pathology (herniation) in the epidural space and disc through the foramen using serial dilation and reaming ( ). Hoogland’s technique initially favored a lateral uniportal approach that entered the disc through the foramen, but incidentally included foraminoplasty using trephines to enlarge the neuroforamen. This was used to access the disc for extruded disc herniations if the facet needed decompression.
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