ArticleInternational journal of spine surgery2026
The Future of Endoscopic Spine Surgery in the United States: Lifeline or Liability?
Article in International journal of spine surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Endoscopic spine surgery offers minimally invasive advantages, including reduced tissue disruption, fewer complications, and faster recovery. These benefits are particularly relevant in the treatment of herniated discs and spinal stenosis. Despite these strengths, questions remain regarding its long-term economic sustainability. Thus, it is important to evaluate the economic challenges facing endoscopic spine surgery and identify strategies to support its integration into modern spine care. This perspective examines reimbursement structures, procedural scope, stakeholder incentives, and overlap with pain management. Endoscopic procedures are primarily used for decompression and involve minimal implant utilization, limiting reimbursement and revenue generation. This creates financial pressure across surgeons, ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, and industry stakeholders. Increasing procedural overlap with pain management further complicates positioning and adoption. Sustained viability will depend on integrating endoscopy into broader surgical workflows, demonstrating measurable value, and aligning reimbursement with clinical performance. Strategic innovation and coordinated stakeholder engagement are essential to securing its future role.
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