MIS Spine Tech -- Fads vs Innovations

Over the last 30 years, minimally invasive technology has developed rapidly in spine surgery, with many technologies demonstrating significant clinical advantages, but others promising more than they could deliver and largely falling by the wayside.

Seven spine surgeons discuss which technologies are here to stay and which could be a flash in the pan.

-motion preservation via disc replacement

-minimally invasive and endoscopic decompressions

-interspinous and interlaminar spacers

-navigation, robotics and augmented reality

-single-position prone lateral technique

-Endoscopic spine surgery

-expandable interbody cages

-prone lateral interbody fusion

-spinous process distraction devices for the treatment of lumbar stenosis

-posterior sacroiliac fusion using allograft dowels

-needle/shaving devices used for ligamentum flavum removal

-robotic spine surgery

-stand-alone transforaminal lumbar interbody devices