What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Dr. Samuel Joseph, spine surgeon located in Tampa, FL, explains the benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery. He also reviews complex spine conditions that can now be treated with minimally invasive spine surgery due to advances in technology.
There have been a lot of new advances in medicine and technology that allow us to do minimally invasive spine surgeries (MISS).
Traditionally open procedures typically require a larger incision, as it is necessary to cut through muscles and pull them out of the way in order to reach the spine. This causes patients a large amount of pain, lots of muscle dissection, blood loss, increases hospitalization, the risk of infection and lengthens recovery time.
Minimally invasive surgery involves a smaller incision, with minimal muscle dissection, and less pain resulting in a faster recovery time, minimal scarring, reduced blood loss and reduced risk of infection. There is rarely a need for a blood transfusion, often there is less need for narcotic pain medications, and usually, no hospital stay.
Let’s review the anatomy of the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine consists of five lumbar vertebrae labeled one through five. So this would be L1, L2, L3. They are separated from one another by these discs, these discs are the spongy portion of the spine that allow the spine to flex and extend. In the back of the spine, there is a tube, the tube consists of fluid and nerves. The nerves exit at various places in the spine. If a disc herniates or if you have a bone spur that can cause pressure on one of these nerves which can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and dysfunction for the patient.
Conditions that may benefit from minimally invasive surgery include spinal stenosis, Bulging or herniated discs, bone spurs, sciatica, leg pain and arm pain.
As we continue to focus on emerging technology and state of the art equipment we have vastly expanded the breadth of spine conditions that can be addressed using minimally invasive techniques.
Today new advances in spine care enable us to undertake a full range of spine disorders, including many complex procedures – such as revision surgeries, multiple-level disease, fusions, compressions, and deformities – all using minimally invasive techniques.