Physician learning curve comparisons.
| CPT Description (Code) | Endoscopy Is EASIER to Learn | Endoscopy Is HARDER to Learn | Endoscopy Has an EQUAL Learning Curve | I Do Not Perform This Comparative Procedure |
| Laminectomy and Spinal Cord Decompression, Lumbar (63047) | 26% (33 responses) | 61.4% (78 responses) | 10.2% (13 responses) | 2.4% (3 responses) |
| Partial excision of posterior vertebral component (eg, spinous process, lamina, or facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment; lumbar (22102) | 22% (28 responses) | 66.1% (84 responses) | 7.9% (10 responses) | 3.9% (5 responses) |
| Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace and lumbar (63030) | 29.9% (38 responses) | 55.9% (71 responses) | 11.8% (15 responses) | 2.4% (3 responses) |
| Laminectomy with exploration and/or decompression of spinal cord and/or cauda equina, without facetectomy, foraminotomy, or discectomy (eg, spinal stenosis), 1 or 2 vertebral segments; lumbar, except for spondylolisthesis (63005) | 23.6% (30 responses) | 63.8% (81 responses) | 8.7% (11 responses) | 3.9% (5 responses) |
| Stereotactic radiosurgery (particle beam, gamma ray, or linear accelerator); 1 spinal lesion (63620) | 22.8% (29 responses) | 31.5% (40 responses) | 3.9% (5 responses) | 41.7% (53 responses) |
| Insertion of interlaminar/interspinous process stabilization/distraction device, without open decompression or fusion, including image guidance when performed, lumbar; single level (22869) | 18.1% (23 responses) | 46.5% (59 responses) | 4.7% (6 responses) | 30.7% (39 responses) |
| Arthrodesis, posterior interbody technique, including laminectomy and/or discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace; lumbar (22630) | 23.6% (30 responses) | 61.4% (78 responses) | 8.7% (11 responses) | 6.3% (8 responses) |
| Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level; lumbar (with lateral transverse technique, when performed) (22612) | 20.5% (26 responses) | 55.9% (71 responses) | 13.4% (17 responses) | 10.2% (13 responses) |
| Arthrodesis, lateral extracavitary technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression); thoracic (22532) | 28.3% (36 responses) | 44.9% (57 responses) | 10.2% (13 responses) | 16.5% (21 responses) |
| Arthrodesis, lateral extracavitary technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression); lumbar (22533) | 25.2% (32 responses) | 47.2% (60 responses) | 11% (14 responses) | 16.5% (21 responses) |
| Arthrodesis, combined posterior, or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace and segment; lumbar (22633) | 27.6% (35 responses) | 50.4% (64 responses) | 7.9% (10 responses) | 14.2% (18 responses) |
Abbreviation: CPT, Current Procedural Terminology.