"Persistent Pain Even After Back Surgery"... Cause Identified [Health Check]

[Financial News] Some patients continue to experience pain or nerve symptoms even after back surgery. One possible cause is the intervertebral foramen, often described as a hidden zone of the spine. Jeong Yun-gyo, head of the Spine Center at Nanuri Hospital, presented an endoscopic spine surgery strategy for treating lesions in this difficult-to-diagnose and treat area.
Jeong gave a presentation on the topic of "Cases of Treating Intervertebral Foramen Lesions Through an Endoscopic Approach" at the 12th Academic Conference of the 2026 Korean Association of Neurosurgical Hospitals, held on the 23rd at Gwanggaeto Hall at Sejong University in Seoul.
In his presentation, Jeong focused on the intervertebral foramen, known as the spine's hidden zone. It is the passage through which nerves exit between the vertebrae, and because it lies deep beneath spinal structures, lesions in this area are difficult to detect. In particular, narrowing of this space, known as foraminal stenosis, is often overlooked during diagnosis. It is considered one of the main causes of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS), in which pain or nerve symptoms persist even after back surgery.
Jeong introduced an endoscopic spine surgery strategy designed to provide more precise access to this hidden zone. Endoscopic surgery allows direct visualization of lesions at high magnification and minimally invasive access to deep areas of the intervertebral foramen. It may also help reduce the risk of postoperative spinal instability by minimizing damage to the facet joints and the muscles around the spine.
During the session, Jeong explained the anatomical characteristics of the intervertebral foramen, approaches to the lumbar paraspinal region, access techniques for the L5-S1 lumbosacral joint, actual endoscopic treatment cases, and complications. He also outlined the clinical use of endoscopic spine surgery and treatment strategies for intervertebral foramen lesions.
Jeong said, "The intervertebral foramen is an important passage for nerves, but because it is located deep in the anatomy, lesions are easy to miss. The key to endoscopic spine surgery is to accurately identify the lesion causing the pain and precisely reach the necessary area while minimizing damage to normal tissue."
He added, "In particular, for patients whose symptoms persist even after back surgery, it is important to accurately identify the lesion causing the pain. Going forward, I will continue to build on diverse clinical experience and surgical techniques to strengthen expertise in endoscopic spine surgery and provide more precise, minimally invasive treatment." 




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