Learning curve for endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy.
Dean C PerfettiMary P Rogers-LaVanneAlexander M SatinNatalie YapImad KhanPatrick KimChristoph P HofstetterPeter B DermanPublished in: European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society (2023)
PECF is an advanced endoscopic technique with an initial improvement in operative time that occurred after as few as 8 cases to as many as 28 cases in this series. A second learning curve may occur with additional cases. Patient-reported outcomes improve following surgery, and these outcomes are independent of the surgeon's position on the learning curve. Fluoroscopy use does not change significantly along the learning curve. PECF is a safe and effective technique that current and future spine surgeons should consider as part of their armamentarium.