A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing the Results of Microdiscectomy Under Regional and General Anesthesia -- Nucleoplasty as an Alternative Intradiscal Therapy: Indications and Technique -- Surgical Procedures and Clinical Results of Endoscopic Decompression for Lumbar Canal Stenosis -- Videotape-Assisted Thoracoscopy (VAT) for Anterior Release in Neuromuscular Scoliosis -- Clinical Outcomes of Microendoscopic Discectomy for Extraforaminal Lumbar Disc Herniation -- Percutaneous Vertebroplasty with Hydroxyapatite for the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Burst Fracture of Thoracolumbar Spine -- Surgical Results of Endoscopic Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: Three-Year Follow-up -- Laparoscopy-Assisted Mini-Open Lateral Approach for Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion -- Treatment of Internal Disc Derangement by Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Posterior Instrumentation -- Endoscopic Discectomy for Extraforaminal Lumbar Disc Herniation -- Anterolateral Approach to the Lumbar Spine -- Posterior Endoscopic Discectomy Using as Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy System Developed in Japan -- Intraspinal Examination with a Spinal Fiberscope (Myelofiberscope) -- Clinical Outcomes of Posterior Endoscopic Discectomy for Central Disc Herniation and Posterior Endplate Lesions in the Lumbar Spine -- Diagnosis and Endoscopic Release of the Piriformis Muscle Under Local Anesthesia for Piriformis Syndrome.

The second congress of the Paci?c Asian Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (PASMISS) held in Phuket,Thailand,August 5–6,2002,was highly s- cessful. Dr.Akira Dezawa, the president, had worked hard in organizing the congress,which was well attended.All scienti?c papers presented were of the highest standard and were worthy of publication in book form.This scienti?c meeting brought to light the practice of this modern surgical technique as it is being performed by spine surgeons in the Asia–Paci?c region.Dr.Dezawa has made a great effort to collect the papers from the congress,and to have them edited and published as a text that covers all aspects of the minimally invasive spine surgical approach. Minimally invasive spinal surgery will be a highlight of operative approaches in the twenty-?rst century and already has been popularized worldwide.This procedure will provide surgical options that address several pathological conditions in the spinal column without producing the types of morbidity commonly seen in open surgical procedures. The contents of this book provide highly relevant and detailed information. I certainly believe that it will be a great bene?t to all orthopedic surgeons who are interested in performing minimally invasive spine surgery. Charoen Chotigavanich,M.D. Chairman,Spinal Section The Royal College of Orthopedic Surgeons of Thailand V Preface Recent decades have been characterized by revolutionary changes in spinal surgery. Concurrent progress in implant technology and functional en- scopes and the improvement of less invasive surgical techniques has opened a new dimension for spine surgery.