Many surgical procedures have involved smaller incisions and various minimally invasive techniques for quite some time. Due to the delicacy of the spine, surrounding muscles and nerve pathways, it took longer to introduce these higher-tech approaches to back operations. Now, they are relatively standard for a full range of spine surgeries.

“Traditional spine surgery used an incision about 6 inches long and we pulled or retracted the muscles out of the way to see the surgical site,” says fellowship-trained McLeod Spine Surgeon W. S. (Bill) Edwards, Jr. “This often bruised or injured the muscle, leading to a longer recovery and more pain. Now, our technology uses small half-inch incisions and we gently spread the muscles to insert a small retractor or tube and then pass instruments through it. We can see what we are doing through the small surgical approach with an operating microscope that magnifies the surgical site and document our location with real time X-ray during the procedure.

COMMON MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES

Not all spine surgeries can be accomplished with minimally invasive techniques but some of the most common minimally invasive spine procedures are:

Lumbar Discectomy: to remove a herniated disc in the lower back that pinches a nerve.
Lumbar Fusion: to place a bone graft in the disc space and, possibly screws and rods for additional support.
Other conditions that can be approached with this minimally invasive technique include spine fractures, spinal stenosis and cervical disc herniations.

ADVANTAGES

Patient benefits from these spine procedures are similar to other types of minimally invasive operations for orthopedic, gynecological and general surgery. They include:

• Reduced risk of damage to muscles and other soft tissue.
• Less pain and, therefore, less need for pain medication.
• Less blood loss and need for transfusion. Studies show the blood loss of minimally invasive spine surgery is only about 10% of the loss in traditional surgery.
• Many spine procedures can be done as an outpatient. Even the bigger fusion procedures can be done with just an overnight stay in the hospital, compared to three or four days in the past without minimally invasive techniques.
• Better cosmetic results from the smaller half-inch incision, compared to a 6-inch scar.
• Lower cost. Minimally invasive tends to be somewhat less expensive on average than open surgery, potentially saving out-of-pocket expenses for the patient.

OUTCOMES

Any patient should be concerned with how they will fare after the surgery. In health care, it is called clinical outcomes. With surgeons, who are experienced in this type of surgery, the literature shows patient’s experience equal or better outcomes, compared to traditional open surgical techniques.

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE

If you have spine or back problems, try nonsurgical approaches first, such as medication or physical therapy. If those treatments do not offer relief, talk with a spine surgeon about your problem and whether you are a candidate for minimally invasive surgery.

 

You may also find these articles helpful:

Pain Management at Home After Surgery

Save Your Vacation and Your Back: Travel Packing Tips

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Fine an orthopedic or spine surgeon near you.

 

Sources include: McLeod Health, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, National Institutes of Health, Journal of Spinal Disorders &Techniques, American Association of Neurological Surgeons