10.2. Equipment and Instruments
@ProfFishchenkoEquipment
1. A radiolucent operating table with a Wilson frame.
2. A C-arm; radiation protection and dosimetry equipment.
3. An arthroscopy tower:
• a monitor and video system (console and camera);
• a light source and light cable;
• a 0° scope; a 30° scope if needed.
4. Gravity irrigation without a pump: two 3 L bags of normal saline. In our setup, their lower edges are approximately 170 cm above the floor. This describes the system position, rather than a prescribed pressure in the working cavity. We maintain free outflow; we do not compensate for impaired outflow by increasing the supply pressure.
5. A Stryker CORE 2 console and handpiece:
• a spherical or barrel-shaped 5 mm cutting burr;
• a 5 mm spherical diamond burr;
• a 5 mm shaver tip.
6. A BONSS ARS600 radiofrequency generator:
• an RF electrode with a 5 mm working tip;
• an RF electrode with a 1.5 mm working tip if needed.
7. A suction system and an irrigation fluid collection system.
Instruments
1. A specialized BESS/UBE instrument set, if available.
2. A dilator set.
3. Kerrison rongeurs: 3 and 2 mm working widths; 45° angle.
4. Disc rongeurs: straight and upturned.
5. Curettes.
6. An endoscopic annulotomy knife (Indian knife).
7. An elevator.
8. Osteotomes (chisels): straight; right and left hockey-stick types; curved at 30°.
9. A surgical mallet.
Photographs and detailed descriptions are provided in the basic sections of the atlas:
References
1. Heo DH, Sharma S, Park CK. Endoscopic treatment of extraforaminal entrapment of L5 nerve root (far out syndrome) by unilateral biportal endoscopic approach: technical report and preliminary clinical results. Neurospine. 2019;16(1):130-137. doi:10.14245/ns.1938026.013.
2. Park MK, Son SK, Park WW, Choi SH, Jung DY, Kim DH. Unilateral biportal endoscopy for decompression of extraforaminal stenosis at the lumbosacral junction: surgical techniques and clinical outcomes. Neurospine. 2021;18(4):871-879. doi:10.14245/ns.2142146.073.
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