Chad E. Campion - Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics

Dr. Chad Campion is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon with clinical experience in the comprehensive treatment of spinal disorders from the neck through the low back. He has clinical interests in minimally-invasive techniques, motion-preserving (non-fusion) surgery, adult deformity, and revision surgery, as well as the treatment of spinal tumors. Dr. Campion is also trained on the latest surgical techniques in spine, including the use of computer guided navigation and robotics.

Dr. Campion believes that surgery is the last option in the treatment of spine related issues and has a knowledgeable team he works with to provide the latest non-operative treatments. When surgery becomes the only treatment option, Dr. Campion believes the patient and their family should play an active role in the treatment team. This includes pre-operative optimization, immediate post-operative rehabilitation and long-term spine health. To accomplish this, he believes it is important that everyone on the team have a thorough understanding of the surgery, its goals, and the expected post-operative course.

Dr. Campion lives in Lakeland with his wife MK, a Collierville native. He and his wife both enjoy an active lifestyle of running, working out and golf. They also enjoy cheering on the Mississippi State Bulldogs during college football season. Their love an active lifestyle is one of the reasons why Dr. Campion focuses on helping his patients get back to the hobbies and lifestyle they enjoy.

Professional Societies and Academic Interests:

University of Tennessee, Department of Spine Surgery – Instructor of Orthopaedic Surgery
North American Spine Society
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Clinical Interests:

Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Robotic Spine Surgery
Navigated Spine Surgery
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Adult Scoliosis
Herniated Disc/Disc Bulge
Sciatica
Cervical Disc Arthroplasty
Kyphoplasty
Compression Fracture
Spine Tumors

Endoscopic Spine Surgery

If you’ve been told you need spine surgery, it’s important to understand what your options are and be aware of the benefits, risks and projected outcomes. Learn about the benefits of endoscopic spine surgery from Dr. Chad Campion and see if you’re the right candidate for this minimally invasive procedure.

Endoscopic Spine Surgery – Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

What is Endoscopic Spine surgery?

Endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a surgeon to access the spinal column through a small incision less than one centimeter in length. Through this incision, a small camera allows the use of small tools to remove pressure on compressed nerves. An endoscope is a rigid tube with camera at the end of it that allows direct light-based visualization of a patient’s anatomy. There is a working channel at the end of the camera to perform the surgical procedure.

Traditional surgery damages paraspinal muscles – the “action” muscles of the back that help you lean to one side, arch your back, bend forward or twist your torso. Endoscopic surgery techniques do not cause damage to these dynamic stabilizers.

What qualifies someone to be a candidate for Endoscopic Spine surgery?

Generally, the best candidate is a patient with specific radiculopathy, pain, numbness or weakness in a specific nerve root distribution down the arm or leg.

If we can pinpoint the source of a patient’s symptoms to a specific anatomic location and they are a candidate for outpatient surgery, endoscopic spine surgery is an available treatment option.

How does a minimally invasive approach improve surgery outcomes?

The recovery time from a minimally invasive approach, such as endoscopic spine surgery, is much faster than traditional surgery. When you have traditional spine surgery, you’re dealing with bone removal and drilling into joints as well as muscle dissection.

Additional benefits of a minimally invasive approach include:

Smaller incisions than traditional spine surgery
Limited blood loss as compared to open procedures
Better management of post-operative pain
Preservation of spinal mobility
Significantly lower risk of deep tissue infection
Less disruption of surrounding muscles
Fewer limitations after surgery
Low likelihood of needing narcotics to manage pain
Convenience of same-day surgery

What is the average recovery time and process for someone who undergoes Endoscopic Spine surgery?

It’s different for everyone and largely depends on your occupation and routine habits. On average, many patients are driving just two days after a decompression or discectomy operation. After a few days they can take business trips and get back to normal light activities. Two weeks post-operation, most patients can expect to be participating in all regular, daily activities. A spinal fusion procedure requires more downtime, and patients are restricted for 12 weeks to allow proper bone fusion and healing to occur.

If endoscopic spine surgery sounds like the right option for you, make an appointment for a consultation at Campbell Clinic today. Dr. Campion is the only surgeon in the Memphis area who is trained to perform endoscopic spine surgery. He and his medical team are ready to help you find relief and get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

Spine Homework

I encourage my patients to play an active role in their spine care. Linked below are educational articles about spine anatomy, conditions, and treatments from the North American Spine Society (NASS), Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Increased understanding of one’s own health can lead to better outcomes!

Anatomy of the Spine & Spine Health

Spine Basics

Low Back Basics

Disc Herniation

Keeping Your Back Healthy

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis & Spine Fractures

Neck Problems

Pinched Nerve (Cervical Radiculopathy)

Neck Arthritis (Cervical Spondylosis)

Spinal Cord Compression (Myelopathy)

Back Problems