Minimally Invasive / Endoscopic Surgery
Sometimes, surgery is recommended to treat a problem with the spine. A range of surgical options are available, depending on the patient’s specific case. In some cases, patients are candidates for minimally-invasive spine surgery, or MISS.
Minimally-Invasive Surgery vs. Routine Surgery
Minimally-invasive surgery is different from “routine” surgery in several ways.
Routine Surgery
Recovery Can Be Prolonged as Muscle and Tissue Heal
In most types of routine surgery, body structures must be cut and moved in order for the surgeon to see and fix the area causing the problem.
This is the main reason that recovery from major surgery can be prolonged. The body needs time to heal not only the area that was fixed, but also the surrounding muscles and tissues that were cut during the course of the operation.
Minimally-Invasive Surgery
Quicker Recovery as Less Muscle and Tissue are Cut
Minimally-invasive spine surgery is just what its name implies – surgery designed to disrupt the body structures as little as possible.
- Tubular Retractors
Devices called tubular retractors may be used as a way to hold the back muscles out of the surgeon’s way, avoiding the need to cut them. This alone can reduce recovery time by half for some procedures.
- Endoscope
In some cases, MISS involves the use of an endoscope – a lighted tube inserted through a very small incision. The surgeon looks through the endoscope to see the structures of the back and performs the surgery using tiny instruments. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, and patients can feel better as soon as the same day. Endoscopic spine surgery is a pioneering procedure that is only done in very specific cases. Techniques are being developed that will enable this option to be used in an increasing number of patients.
Ask your doctor for more information about minimally-invasive spine surgery, and whether this option makes sense for you.
