Medically Reviewed by Rakesh Chokshi, MD

Spine patients facing surgery view their future in two aspects: will my life be better long-term and what will the immediate aftermath of my surgery be like – pain, lengthy recovery, rehabilitation?

With minimally invasive Lateral Access Spine Surgery, a patient’s short-term outlook can be as positive as their favorable long-term outlook.

“In traditional spine surgery, the surgeon makes a five to six inch incision and pulls or retracts the muscles aside to reach the surgical site,” says McLeod Spine Surgeon Rakesh Chokshi, MD.  “Using Lateral Access Spine Surgery, the incision is less than one inch and there’s no need to stretch or damage muscles.”

MANY PATIENT BENEFITS
Traditionally, the incision for a spine surgery was done from the back. Lateral Access means the surgical incision is made from the patient’s side. Patient benefits resulting from Lateral Access Surgery include:

• Shorter time in the operating room, which also means less time under anesthesia. Some procedures using this technique can be done in an hour.
• Patients experience less blood loss and pain due to the shorter operation, smaller incision and need to disrupt muscles. Patients typically walk the same day.
• Only a one or two night hospital stay may be required.
• Very low infection rate.
• Minimal need for post-operative pain medication.

Two of the most common conditions for which spine surgeons use this minimally invasive technique include:

• Spinal Fusion, where small bones are healed into a solid, single bone.
• Decompression, which relieves pressure on spinal nerves by getting rid of a piece of bone or spinal disc.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Lateral Access Surgery is one of several minimally invasive spine techniques.  Spine surgery will be recommended only after nonsurgical treatments – such as medication, physical therapy and lifestyle modification — fail to bring you relief. Lateral Access Surgery may not be the best type of surgery for all patients. Talk to your spine surgeon about the option that will deliver the best short and long-term results for your life.

Find a Spine Surgeon.

Sources include: McLeod Health, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, International Journal of Spine Surgery