Why Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Meant to stabilize the bones of the vertebrae and joints in the spine, in order to relieve pressure on nerves, minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery can be the solution to a number of common conditions and injuries.
Spinal Instability
Bone Spur
Spondylolisthesis
Herniated Disc
Scoliosis
Lordosis
Spinal Tumor
Degenerative Disc Disease
Spinal Stenosis
Spondylosis
Vertebral Compression Fractures
Kyphosis
Radiculopathy
And, often, using an MIS approach can be faster, safer and require less time to recover. When compared to traditional open spine surgery, MIS results in reduced trauma to muscle and tissue, which means:
Smaller incisions
Minimal cutting of muscle, if any
Less rehabilitation required post-op
Lower post-op pain
Minimized need for post-op pain meds
Additionally, many MIS surgeries are performed as an outpatient procedure, using local anesthesia only. This limits the possible risks associated, such as:
Adverse reaction to anesthetic
Unexpected blood loss
Localized infection
Your surgeon should tell you if you are a candidate for an MIS option to treat your spine condition. However, there are still situations in which a MIS surgery may not be as safe, or effective, as the traditional surgical approach. As the patient, it is important to be informed about the risks and benefits of your surgical options. And, there are some conditions of the spine that are truly not treatable with MIS surgery.