Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

The primary goal of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) like conventional surgery is to stabilize vertebrae and decompress pinched nerves to ease pain and eliminate painful symptoms by lowering the pressure on the nerves caused by herniated discs, spinal stenosis, bone spurs or tumors

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)

  • Smaller incisions hence fewer chances of infection

  • Minimal scarring and pain

  • Reduced blood loss and damage to the muscles and tissues

  • Faster recovery and reduced rehabilitation time

Treatment

Surgery is often the last resort and is advised in patients who develop symptoms even after six weeks of conservative treatment, such as medications, injections, and physiotherapy. This surgery aims to remove the prolapsed part of the disc from the spinal cord

  • A discectomy removes herniated disc material that compresses the spinal cord or a nerve root.
  • Percutaneous discectomy is used for bulging discs or discs that have not extruded into the spinal canal.
  • Laminotomy and laminectomy—'Laminotomy' removes a portion of the thin vertebrae, which produces a protective arch across the spinal cord (lamina). laminectomy involves removal of all the lamina on the selected vertebrae and may also remove thickened tissue that narrows the spinal canal depending on each patient.
  • Minimally Invasive Spinal (MIS) Fusion – This spinal surgery is performed to replace the lamina and disc with the addition of the vertebra fusion graft. The anterior and posterior methods are used to perform the surgery. The most common procedure used is the posterior approach, where the procedure is performed from the back.

Postero Lateral Gutter Fusion (PLGF)
Surgery

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Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) Surgery

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Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) Surgery

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Techniques and Expected Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) utilizes small incisions and advanced endoscopic instruments to minimize trauma to surrounding tissues. Key techniques include

Spinal decompression

This procedure is done to relieve spinal stenosis caused by narrowing the vertebral column and compressed nerves with associated symptoms.

Thoracoscopic access

This technique is used when using multiple small incisions to enter from the front.

Procedures with tubular retractor

In this method, the soft tissues are distended rather than incising them, thus reducing the chances of trauma to the muscle.

Percutaneous screw and rod placements

This method is used to stabilize the spine and to immobilize the spine and help the vertebrae to fuse, done with guide-wires' support

Direct lateral access

This method involves procedure approached from the side, which reduces the pain and trauma to the muscles.

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