Instrumentation and surgical method for image-guided microendoscopic decompression

Instrumentation for microendoscopic surgery comprising:

• a first retractor having a tubular wall including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior passage extending between a proximal end and a distal working end, the interior passage configured to accommodate the intermittent insertion of surgical instruments therethrough from the proximal end through the distal working end;
• a multi-planar navigation marker mounted to the outer surface of the tubular wall, the multi-planar navigation marker including a plurality of spaced-apart, radiopaque marker bodies;
• and
• wherein the multi-planar navigation marker is disposed at predetermined multi-planar spatial and rotational relation to the distal working end of the retractor, including during the absence of surgical instruments from the interior passage;
• and
• wherein the tubular wall of the first retractor further comprises a fluid irrigation system including:
• at least one irrigation outlet hole formed only on the inner surface of the tubular wall facing the interior passage;
• at least one irrigation inlet hole formed only on the outer surface of the tubular wall and disposed proximally relative to the at least one irrigation outlet hole;
• and
• a first fluid-tight passage disposed within the tubular wall of the retractor between the inner surface and the outer surface connecting between the at least one irrigation inlet hole and the at least one irrigation outlet hole for transporting fluid therebetween;
• and
• the at least one irrigation inlet hole being connectable to a source of an irrigation fluid such that, when the at least one irrigation inlet hole is connected to the source of the irrigation fluid, the irrigation fluid flows through the first fluid-tight passage and into the interior passage from the at least one irrigation outlet hole, including during the absence of surgical instruments from the interior passage.