Neurosurgeons treat all parts of the spine. You might see a neurosurgeon for a variety of conditions, ranging from back and neck pain to common head- and neck-related injuries. At Southwest General, we are the first in Northeast Ohio to offer ultra minimally invasive (endoscopic) surgery to treat back pain, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Neurosurgeons treat all parts of the spine. You might see a neurosurgeon for a variety of conditions, ranging from back and neck pain to common head- and neck-related injuries. At Southwest General, we are the first in Northest Ohio to offer ultra minimally invasive surgery to treat back pain, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Xiaofei (Sophie) Zhou, MD, a University Hospitals (UH) neurosurgeon practicing at Southwest General, is passionate about helping patients find symptom relief by using the latest techniques in spinal surgery. Dr. Zhou performed the region's first endoscopic discectomy (surgical removal of disc material) at Southwest General is 2025, using advanced Arthrex technology. She has successfully completed the procedure on several additional patients since then.
Endoscopic Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Open Surgery
The endoscopic spine surgery incision is significantly smaller than incisions required for traditional "open" surgery, which can be several inches long, or other minimally invasive techniques.
Using advanced Arthrex technology, Dr. Zhou specializes in performing endoscopic spine surgery to relieve back pain from disc herniation.
Endoscopic spine surgery is an ultra-minimally invasive technique. This revolutionary new procedure is performed with a specially designed instrument called an endoscope, which has a small camera at the end and a thin tunnel to pass instruments through for operating. The endoscope allows surgeons to view and reach small areas of the spine through a tiny incision less than one centimeter wide. During surgery, the extruded portion of the disc is removed. Patients typically return home the same day as surgery and benefit from: