Innovative procedure provides pain relief with shorter recovery time and reduced scarring
Southwest General Health Center, located in Middleburg Heights, OH, is the first facility in the Greater Cleveland area to provide ultra minimally invasive (endoscopic) spine surgery to treat back pain caused by a herniated disc.
Endoscopic spine surgery is performed with a small instrument called an endoscope, which allows surgeons to view and reach a precise location in the spine. Compared to the larger incisions of traditional spinal surgery, this procedure only requires a single incision that is less than one centimeter wide. During endoscopic spine surgery for a herniated disc, the surgeon removes the extruded portion of the disc with the guidance of the endoscope. Patients typically return home the same day and benefit from a shorter recovery time and reduced scarring.
Xiaofei (Sophie) Zhou, MD, a University Hospitals (UH) neurosurgeon practicing at Southwest General, spearheaded the effort to bring endoscopic spine surgery to Southwest General, which is the first facility in the Greater Cleveland area to have the equipment for this procedure. “Herniated discs affect a large number of patients in our population,” said Dr. Zhou. “It’s an honor to be the first in Northeast Ohio to provide endoscopic spine surgery, which can be a life-changing surgery for patients.”
Dr. Zhou performed the region’s first endoscopic discectomy using Arthrex technology at Southwest General in January 2025 and has successfully completed the procedure on several additional patients since then.
“We are incredibly proud to support Dr. Zhou in performing this innovative spine surgery procedure and to be the first health system in Northeast Ohio to offer endoscopic spine surgery for patients suffering debilitating back pain from disc herniation,” said William A. Young, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Southwest General. “As the community’s hospital, we are dedicated to providing a level of care that meets the needs of our patients, and our investment in this technology is a reflection of our ongoing efforts to honor that commitment.”
For more information on eligibility requirements for patients, call 440-816-2860.