WBIR: KOC Surgeon First to Offer Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

KOC surgeon Dr. Benjamin Weisenthal is the first to offer endoscopic spine surgery in East Tennessee.

Dr. Weisenthal has performed more than two dozen of these ultra-minimally invasive spine surgeries as outpatient procedures with good results.

WBIR highlighted the new procedure, which decreases the size of the incision to lower the risk of muscle trauma and scar tissue formation.

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“A traditional discectomy can require an incision of two to four centimeters, but using an endoscope and tiny camera, I can reduce that to one centimeter or about the size of your finger,” Weisenthal said. “Decreasing the size of the incision means lower risk of muscle trauma or scar tissue formation and can result in less discomfort and a faster recovery.”

That has personal meaning for Dr. Weisenthal, who underwent spine surgery himself in his youth.

“I know firsthand how miserable spine surgery can be,” Dr. Weisenthal said. “Now, we’re able to treat patients with this ultra-minimally invasive procedure where most patients go home the same day, and many are able to return to work and other activities within weeks.”

Thirty-one-year-old Caitlin Wilson said she was back at work as a hairdresser just three weeks after Dr. Weisenthal performed an endoscopic surgery to resolve a herniated disc that was pressing on a nerve in her back.

“It was amazing!” Wilson said. “I felt instant relief. Before the surgery, I couldn’t even move. I had pain shooting down my leg and back. Two weeks after the procedure, I rode in the car and went to the beach. Now I’m pain free and back at work.”

Dr. Weisenthal underwent significant training to master the intricate surgery, completing an immersive course through Arthrex, the medical device company that developed the ultra-minimally invasive endoscope and camera equipment. He also shadowed a surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and conducted a number of independent labs to perfect his techniques.

Dr. Weisenthal said the procedure can be used for discectomies for herniated discs and to treat spinal stenosis, in which patients have arthritis that is pushing on nerves. The surgery also can provide an alternative for some patients who otherwise would have needed a spinal fusion.

KOC is the only orthopaedic provider in East Tennessee offering this ultra-minimally invasive spine surgery, which Dr. Weisenthal performs at Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center (KOSC). The orthopaedic-only outpatient surgery center in West Knoxville provides convenient, patient-centered treatment outside of a traditional hospital setting.

KOC has been a leader in orthopaedic care for more than 80 years. The practice includes more than 1,000 team members across 10 office locations, seven urgent care clinics and two surgery centers. The orthopaedic network offers experts in 13 subspecialties from joint replacement to trauma surgery to help patients lead healthier, more active lives.