The spine gives our body stability and strength every time we move around. Plus, the spinal vertebrae (bones) also serve as a protection for our spinal cord. Thus, any problems in our spine must be addressed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon.
Minimally invasive methods will be attempted first to address your pain or debilitating back issues, such as pain injections. If these do not solve the problem, then your orthopedist may perform minimally invasive spine surgery.
There are several types of spinal surgery that can help those who are experiencing back pain, including the following:
- Lumbar Decompression Surgery for Spinal Stenosis
- Lumbar Discectomy
- Herniated Disc Surgery
- Spinal Fusion Surgery
What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery is a method of performing surgery. In a “traditional” open surgery approach, surgeon makes a single long incision (cut) through your skin. To help the surgeon clearly see the surgical site, a relatively large amount of muscle and surrounding soft tissue are spread or pulled out of the way or removed from bone.
But in minimally invasive spine surgery, surgeon makes one or more small incisions (about ½ inch each) through skin. A small metal tube or endoscope is placed through the incision to allow the surgeon to work through a smaller operative field. Working through smaller incisions causes much less damage to muscles and soft tissues than a single long incision.
What types of spine surgeries can be performed using a minimally invasive approach?
Many types of spine surgeries can be performed using a minimally invasive approach. These include:
- Spinal fusion, which is often performed on degenerative or “slipped” disks.
- Deformity corrections, such as for scoliosis and kyphosis.Deformity corrections, such as for scoliosis and kyphosis.
- Decompression of spinal tumors.
- Repair and stabilization of vertebral compression fractures.
- Lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Infection in the spine.
What are the benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery offers several advantages over open surgery, including:
- Less anesthesia.
- Less blood loss during surgery.
- Less muscle and soft tissue damage.
- Reduced risk of infection.
- Less pain after surgery.
- Less pain medication use.
- Better cosmetic result
- Shorter hospital stay
- Shorter recovery time
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