Insights into Common Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Procedures

Most spinal disorders can be treated non-surgically, with only a few requiring surgical intervention. In the realm of surgery, advancements worldwide focus on maximizing benefits while minimizing collateral damage. In this regard, minimally invasive spine surgery emerges as the preferred approach.

One of the first questions patients often ask is, “Doctor, how long will the incision be, or how many sutures will I have?” We all have a natural fear of scars.

With minimally invasive spine surgery, the damaged tissue is removed via a small, technologically enabled incision. This approach produces little damage to the healthy tissue and allows optimal accomplishment of the desired surgical goal. Patients with spinal issues are becoming more inclined to Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS) as a result of the expansion of information, advancements in living standards, and other factors. Earlier, most spine procedures involved large incisions, long hospital stays, and months of being on sick leave. 

However, a new alternative, MISS, or minimally invasive spine surgery has been discovered in recent times that revolutionized the procedure. It is associated with various benefits, including minimum pain, quick recovery time, & a smaller scar compared to traditional surgical procedures. In this article, we look at the popular minimally invasive spine surgery techniques, their benefits, and their goals.

What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

MISS is a type of surgical intervention of the spine or backbone. This surgery involves accessing your spine through small incisions made by the surgeon. Because of the special tools and minimally invasive techniques used, muscles and surrounding tissues are not damaged. Patients, thus, tend to recover faster and can return to their normal activities faster.

Common Spine Surgery Procedures

Spine Decompression

Spine decompression is a type of spinal surgery. The basic concept of decompression is relieving pressure from the spinal cord or nerves. Pressure from nerves can cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the back or legs. The two most common types of decompression procedures are :

• Laminectomy
• Microdiscectomy 

Spinal decompression can be done using either tubes whose diameter can range from 14mm to 26mm. Once the access is achieved then with the help of fluoroscopy and operative microscope the surgical steps are performed which is similar to open surgery.

It is said there are multiple ways to skin a cat. The same can also be done using an endoscope which uses fibre-optic illumination and either one or more tubes are used and the same end-point can be achieved.

Laser Spine Surgery

Spinal surgery with lasers is a relatively recent procedure. It is performed with lasers, which makes it even less intrusive than the majority of other traditional medical procedures. The surgeon uses a laser during laser spine surgery to remove tissue that is placing pressure on nerves. This technique also permits the laser to vaporize the herniated disc material or to repair defects in the annulus (part of the human disc). Laser spine surgery is often an outpatient procedure, or it can be used as an additional procedure for endoscopic spine surgery.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion is the surgical process of permanently joining two or more vertebrae that stabilise the spine. This technique can be applied to several medical conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. The same principles of tubular or endoscopic spine surgery can be used to perform fusion, and additionally, screws can be put in a percutaneous manner (from the skin) with the help of intraoperative X-rays.

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy is a surgical operation to expand the foramen, an opening through which the spinal nerves exit the vertebrae. The most prevalent cause for using surgery for the treatment of nerve compression is bone spurs or herniated discs. This procedure can be done with tubes or endoscopes in the neck or lower back.

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are procedures done to treat vertebral compression fractures. Osteoporosis is one of the most common causes of fractures. During vertebroplasty, the surgeon injects cement through a small incision into the fractured vertebra to stabilise the bone and reduce pain. In kyphoplasty, a balloon is inserted first into the fractured vertebra to create an empty space, and then cement is injected. These procedures are minimally invasive & can offer instantaneous relief from pain.

Who is a Good Candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

It is very important to consult with a qualified spine surgeon. The surgeon will determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for this particular type of surgery. They may consider many different factors before deciding the best surgical approach for you.

Usually, surgery is considered only when other treatment strategies, such as medicines or physical therapy, have failed to deliver relief from these symptoms. If the surgeon can locate the cause of your symptoms correctly, then they may use the minimally invasive method. This, of course, minimises the extent to which one has to open up the spine to identify the problem.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery has several advantages:

• Smaller incisions cause less tissue damage and, therefore, less postoperative pain.
• Smaller incisions have fewer chances of infection than open surgery.
• Minor cuts used in minimally invasive procedures usually heal fast with little scarring.
• Patients spend less time in the hospitals and can quickly resume their daily activities.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive spine surgery is quite beneficial for patients suffering from spine issues. Procedures like spine decompression, laser spine surgery, and minimally invasive spinal fusion can offer significant relief to patients suffering from back pain. Choosing the right spine surgery procedure is crucial for successful outcomes. Consulting with a spine specialist is vital to determine the best option based on individual needs. However, doing this requires expertise, which is acquired after apprenticeship and visiting other centres of excellence.

Consult Dr. Vijay Kumar Loya who is trained in Minimal invasive spine surgery at Omni Hospitals as soon as possible to determine your best surgical alternatives if you have an injured back or any other issue. Dr. Vijay Kumar Loya will help determine the best surgical technique for your situation. We leverage minimally invasive techniques to treat various spinal issues and help you get back to your routine!

This article has been medically reviewed by Approved by Dr Vijay, ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE SURGEON