12.2. Equipment and Instruments
@ProfFishchenkoEndoscopic interbody fusion requires, in addition to standard BESS/UBE equipment and instruments, a specialized set for intervertebral disc removal, endplate preparation, and interbody cage implantation.
Equipment
1. A radiolucent operating table with a Wilson frame.
2. A C-arm; radiation protection and dosimetry equipment.
3. An arthroscopy tower:
• a monitor;
• a video system (console and camera);
• a light source and light cable;
• gravity irrigation without a pump: two 3 L bags of normal saline, whose lower edges in our standard setup are approximately 170 cm above the floor. Continuous free outflow is essential; we do not compensate for impaired outflow by increasing pressure. The specified height describes the system setup, rather than a prescribed pressure in the working space;
• a Stryker CORE 2 console and handpiece;
• a 5 mm cutting burr;
• a 5 mm shaver tip;
• a 0° scope;
• a 30° scope if needed.
4. A BONSS ARS600 radiofrequency generator:
• a 5 mm RF electrode;
• a 1.5 mm RF electrode if needed.
5. A suction system and an irrigation fluid collection system.
Instruments
1. A specialized BESS/UBE instrument set.
2. A dilator set.
3. Kerrison rongeurs: 3 mm working width, 45° angle.
4. A disc rongeur.
5. Disc curettes — straight and curved.
6. A broad nerve root retractor to protect the root during PLIF cage placement.
7. An elevator.
8. An endoscopic annulotomy knife (Indian knife).
9. An osteotome (chisel).
10. A surgical mallet.
11. A PLIF/TLIF cage insertion set.
Photographs of standard instruments — Section 1.2.
Photographs of equipment — Section 1.3.
References
1. Heo DH, Hong YH, Lee DC, Chung HJ, Park CK. Technique of biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Neurospine. 2020;17(Suppl 1):S129–S137. DOI: 10.14245/ns.2040178.089.
2. Park HJ, Shin JI, You KH, Yang JI, Kim N, Kim YH, et al. Biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: how to improve fusion rate? Int J Spine Surg. 2024;18(5):582–588. DOI: 10.14444/8648.
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