SUCCESS
2026
Calgary Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Research, and Advancement Program
Spinal surgery can be a painful and invasive procedure with long recovery times. Dr. Michael Yang and Dr. Ken Thomas seek to change this through the Calgary Endoscopic Spine Surgery, Research, and Advancement (CESSRA) Program. Supported by Calgary Health Foundation donors, the program’s goal is to reduce the surgical impact on patients, get patients out of the hospital more quickly, and see less post-operative pain, less opioid use, and a faster turnaround time for patients to return to their lives. We are already seeing the positive impacts.
85+ In January 2025, the team performed the first endoscopic spinal surgery in Western Canada. Since then, over 85 patients have benefitted from this surgery.
1 st In September 2025, the team performed Canada’s first endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery. This ultra- minimally invasive approach enables surgeons to address the source of pain without disrupting surrounding anatomy. Patients can go home the same day as their surgery, instead of staying an average of three days with more traditional approaches.
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We have the goal of being the centre of excellence and the training ground for endoscopic spine surgery in Canada. – Dr. Michael Yang Spinal Neurosurgeon
After years of debilitating pain, Terry Lodge was able to receive minimally invasive spine surgery.
Innovations in spinal surgery start small and they start with you.
Scan to watch his story.
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ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT
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