Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) has revolutionized the field of spine surgery, offering a safer and faster alternative to traditional spinal procedures. Whether you’re dealing with chronic lower back pain from spinal stenosis or a herniated disc in your neck, minimally invasive techniques could provide the relief you need with less downtime and fewer complications. Summit Orthopedics offers multiple leading-edge minimally invasive procedures to treat a wide range of spinal conditions for Minneapolis/St. Paul area residents.
What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery uses smaller incisions than traditional open spinal surgery to perform procedures that relieve back or neck pain. Surgeons who have undergone expert training use specialized instruments to perform surgeries on the spine, spinal nerves and surrounding muscles and tissues. They may incorporate the use of advanced imaging technologies during surgery to see tissue in detail without having to use a large incision to see where they are removing damaged tissue around the spine.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
In general, minimally invasive surgery allows surgeons to treat a spinal issue while reducing damage to the soft tissues and muscles around the spine, which provides a number of advantages, including:
- Faster recovery: You may experience quicker recovery times and shorter hospital stays than with traditional open surgery. Some procedures may even be performed on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home the same day as your procedure.
- Less postoperative pain: Reduced disruption to muscles and tissues during surgery often leads to reduced pain after surgery. This also minimizes the need for heavy pain medication after your procedure.
- Lower risk of infection and blood loss: Smaller incisions not only mean less blood loss but also a lower risk of infections and other complications commonly associated with traditional open surgeries.
- Minimal scarring: Incisions are often less than one inch long, which means scars may be less visible.
Common Conditions Treated With MIS
Minimally invasive spine surgery cannot treat every type of back problem, but it is a good option for several conditions that affect the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). The most common conditions treated with these types of back operations include:
- Scoliosis and other types of spinal deformities
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated discs
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spinal infections
- Spondylolisthesis and other causes of spinal instability
- Spinal tumors
- Vertebral compression fractures
Types of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Many types of back surgery can be performed using a minimally invasive approach, including:
- Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF): This surgery involves removing part or all of a herniated disc in the neck, followed by fusing two vertebrae together with a bone graft.
- Cervical disc replacement surgery: During this procedure, a surgeon removes a damaged disc, soft tissue which pads the vertebrae in your neck. The surgeon then replaces it with an artificial disc that preserves your neck’s range of motion.
- Cervical laminoforaminotomy: This procedure helps alleviate nerve compression in the neck.
- Lumbar laminectomy: This spinal decompression surgery removes part of the vertebral bone to remove pressure on spinal nerves.
- Microdiscectomy: This surgery removes part or all of a herniated disc that is pressing on a spinal nerve root and causing pain.
- Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF): During this spinal fusion surgery, your surgeon will fuse together vertebrae, usually with a bone graft. This stabilizes the lower back after damage or deterioration from conditions such as spondylolisthesis, when a vertebra slips out of place.
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: These types of surgeries involve injecting cement into a fractured vertebra to stabilize it.
Many minimally invasive spinal procedures are performed endoscopically. A surgeon using this technique will make a small incision and insert a tiny camera (endoscope) into the area to be repaired. The endoscope allows your surgeon to visualize the details of your spine on a large screen above you, instead of cutting a larger incision to see your vertebrae and nerves.
What Happens During and After Your Surgery
The surgical journey to recovery will look different for every person. How long you stay in the hospital and how quickly you recover will depend on your overall health, your diagnosis and the type of procedure you have.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery is performed under either general anesthesia (you will be completely asleep) or regional anesthesia (you will be awake but numb from the waist down).
- If you have outpatient surgery, you will go home the same day of the surgery. If you have inpatient surgery, you will likely go home within 24 to 48 hours.
- As you recover, you should experience significant improvement in pain and mobility. Depending on your surgery, you will start physical therapy.
- As you heal, you can resume light activities and possibly return to work, depending on what kind of job you have.
- After several weeks, you will likely be able to return to more strenuous activities. Full healing may take weeks to months after your procedure.
Like any surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery does have risks. Although the rates of complications are lower than traditional surgery, there is still a risk of problems such as infection, nerve damage or inadequate pain relief.
Could You Benefit From Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery offers a promising option for many individuals with severe spine conditions. However, the suitability and success of these procedures depend on a variety of individual factors, such as your age, your overall health and your desired activity level after surgery.
Summit Orthopedics specializes in both spine surgery and nonsurgical treatment of spine conditions. If our comprehensive nonsurgical treatment options fail to improve your symptoms, your provider will help you weigh the benefits and risks of minimally invasive spine surgery, so you can feel confident in whatever treatment plan you ultimately choose.
If you have chronic neck or back pain, learn if minimally invasive spine surgery at Summit Orthopedics could be the answer. Find a spine expert or request an appointment online.
