The field of endoscopic spinal surgery has seen significant growth in recent years and has led to new and innovative surgical options that address several pathological conditions in the spinal column without running the risks commonly associated with open surgery. This book, as the result of the PASMISS (Pacific Asian Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) meeting held in Thailand in 2002, is a collection of the latest research by internationally recognized experts in the field. They discuss current techniques for performing endoscopic spine surgery, as well as examining thoracoscopic and laparoscopic techniques. Individual chapters address subjects as diverse as microdiscectomy, laparoscopic epidural surgery, and foraminoscopic spine surgery, The collected knowledge contained within this volume is sure to be of benefit to orthopedic surgeons interested in gaining knowledge of a wide range of new procedures.