In the last decade, minimally invasive spine surgery has revolutionized spinal care. This innovative procedure allows surgeons to access your spine while minimizing damage to nearby tissue and muscles. Conditions such as scoliosis and spinal stenosis may be treated with this type of spine surgery. This article will break down the basics of minimally invasive spine surgery, what it entails, and who may be a viable candidate.

What Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Is

As the name implies, minimally invasive spine surgery is a way of accessing the spine through minimally disruptive methods that cause less pain and require less downtime. In traditional open surgery, the surgeon needs to make a single long incision. A significant amount of muscle and soft tissue in the surrounding area needs to be pulled away from the bone so the surgeon can access the surgical site, resulting in more down time and pain post-surgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery requires only a few tiny incisions through which the surgeon passes a small metal tube or endoscope. There is much less disruption to the surrounding muscles, skin, and soft tissues, and thus less down time and pain. A minimally invasive approach can be used in many types of spine surgeries, including:

• Discectomy
• Spinal decompression
• Spinal fusion/fixation

Conditions that can be treated or managed with a minimally invasive surgical approach include:

• Degenerative or “slipped” disks
• Cervical spondylosis
• Herniated disk
• Kyphosis
• Instability
• Spinal stenosis
• Scoliosis
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Spinal tumors

Am I A Good Candidate For Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

Whether or not you are a good candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery depends on a number of factors. Your spine surgeon will consult with you about all your options and make the decision. The key factor for whether or not you’re a viable candidate is whether or not your spine is accessible through small surgical corridors. 

Remember- surgery is usually the last resort when all other forms of treatment fail. After you and your spine specialist have exhausted all other options, such as physical therapy and medications, then you may start to discuss surgical treatment. If the surgeon is able to pinpoint the exact location of the issue that is causing your symptoms, then they may consider a minimally invasive approach. When they know where the problem is and that it is in an easily accessible area, they may choose to perform minimally invasive spine surgery.

Pros and Cons Of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Some benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery are listed below:

• Minimal recovery time
• A shorter procedure 
• Less scarring
• Less pain post-op due to minimal tissue and muscle damage
• Reduced risk of infection
• Less blood loss in the operating room

Some downsides of minimally invasive spine surgery include:

• Not being an option for all patients who need surgery
• Not effectively relieving symptoms
• Bones don’t fuse as expected

Contact Us Today

Minimally invasive spine surgery may be an effective way to treat your symptoms with reduced downtime. You and an experienced spine surgeon should evaluate your condition and discuss your options. The Spine and Scoliosis Center is a top spinal clinic with locations around Florida. Call The Spine and Scoliosis Center to learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery and other treatment options today.