What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery treats the spine through small openings rather than one large incision, working between muscle planes instead of detaching them. For appropriately selected patients this can mean less tissue disruption and a shorter recovery than traditional open surgery. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis.
Surgical treatments of the spine have come a long way. Techniques have become so small and minimally invasive that hospitalization is often no longer necessary. This means less pain, faster recovery, and a return to the quality of life you demand.
This dramatic improvement in treatment is the result of years of research, perfection of technique, and mastery of skill. It’s modern spine surgery.
True minimally invasive spine surgery is what most spine surgeons would consider the ultimate method of modern-day spine surgery.
Modern spine surgery is vastly different from anything you may have heard or read about in the past. Techniques are now designed around small incisions, rapid recovery, and reproducible results. Our procedures are the ultimate expression of our commitment to restoring your quality of life—simply and elegantly.
The Advantages of True Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery:
- Reduced perioperative morbidity
- Minimal blood loss
- Immediate postoperative recovery in most cases
- Minimal structural trauma resulting from surgery
- Can be done outpatient in selected cases
- Decreased hospital stay
- Faster recovery
Additional high-quality research assessing outcomes of minimally invasive spine surgery showed excellent outcomes
Common questions about minimally invasive spine surgery
What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
It treats the spine through small openings rather than one large incision, working between muscle planes instead of detaching them. Techniques are designed around small incisions, rapid recovery, and reproducible results, and hospitalization is often no longer necessary.
How is it different from traditional open spine surgery?
Compared with open operations, the minimally invasive technique yields shortened recovery times that allow patients to return to work, school, and daily activities faster, less post-operative pain, reduced risk of scarring and blood loss, minor trauma to surrounding tissues leaving the majority of muscle unaffected, and fewer potential complications.
Am I a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery?
Not every patient or condition is a candidate. Each patient is reviewed individually, including health history, imaging such as CT, MRI, or X-ray, and symptoms and lifestyle, before a course of treatment is recommended.