Dogta-Lafiè Hospital in Lomé, Togo, performed its first two endoscopic spine surgeries on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, giving patients in the country access to another option for treating certain spinal conditions.
The procedures were carried out by a Togolese medical team led by Professor Essosinam Kpelao, working alongside specialists from Bordeaux University Hospital in France under Professor Jean-Rodolphe Vignes.
"We really want to use minimally invasive techniques so patients can return to work quickly. We couldn't afford to be left behind," Kpelao said.
Endoscopic spine surgery involves operating on the spine through a small incision, typically about one centimeter long. The surgeon inserts an endoscope, a device equipped with a camera that provides a view of the surgical site and helps guide the instruments. Unlike conventional open surgery, the technique requires less tissue disruption and reduces the need to retract the back muscles.
The procedure is used to treat certain herniated discs and nerve compressions that cause lower back pain or sciatica. It can reduce postoperative pain, shorten hospital stays and allow patients to get back on their feet sooner.
The procedure gives patients another option for receiving specialized treatment locally, reducing the need to consider traveling abroad for medical care. It also gives Togolese surgeons an opportunity to develop their expertise and expand access to specialized treatment.
Kpelao hopes to eventually make the procedure available at public hospitals, although that will depend on training medical teams and obtaining specialized equipment. The partnership with Bordeaux University Hospital is expected to help Togolese specialists learn to perform the procedures without outside assistance. Vignes cautioned that additional equipment is still needed.
The surgeries mark another step in Dogta-Lafiè's expansion since it opened in 2023. The hospital was built at an estimated cost of 25 billion CFA francs, financed by Togo's National Social Security Fund (CNSS). It has 160 beds and was initially expected to serve at least 80,000 patients in its first year of operation.
The longer-term challenge will be to secure funding for equipment, train specialists and make the procedures accessible to more patients.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi