- Better cosmetic results coming from comparatively smaller skin incisions which are sometimes only a few millimetres long
- Less blood loss during the surgery
- Reduction in risk of muscle damage as there is the minimum cutting of the muscle
- Low chances of infection and post-surgical pain
- Less time is required for recovery, therefore, less the rehabilitation period is smaller
- Less dependence on painkillers after surgery
- Some MIS surgeries can be performed using local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
Risk factors
Yes, there are some risk factors associated with the surgery. They are mentioned below-
- An unfavorable response to the anesthetic
- Unexpected blood loss during the surgery
- Localized infections in the incision
- Possibility of incompletion of the surgery leading to a possibility of the requirement of another surgery and full open surgery
Types of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
There are various types of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries-
Discectomy
It involves the surgical removal of material that puts pressure on the nerve root or the spinal cord. A discectomy is used as the ideal treatment for nerve root compression, sciatica, bone spur, or pain which radiates through the limbs. The surgery which specifically treats radiating pain in the limbs is called radiculopathy.
Special retractors and microscopes or endoscopes are used by the surgeons to remove the herniated disc. These instruments help the surgeons make smaller incisions that result in a faster recovery.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
It is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the disc through the front of the neck. It is carried out to relieve pressure from the spine and relieve it of pain. This procedure is often carried out in combination with a fusion surgery so that the neck is stabilized. It is mainly used to treat herniated disc and degenerative disc disease.
Foraminotomy
It is a procedure that widens the tunnel in the back known as Foramen. It is the tunnel where nerve roots leave the spinal canal. It is beneficial in cases of nerve root compression. The condition often results in symptoms like pain, numbness, and tingling. Muscle weakness may also be seen in some cases.
Laminectomy
It involves the removal of the lamina(the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal). This procedure helps in relieving the pressure from the spinal cord in case of lumbar stenosis, or a herniated disc. It is also useful in cases of the bone spur.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion permanently joins together two or more bones in the spine. The surgeon uses a graft to fuse the bones using various types of graft material. It might use an autograft (strips of bone that are obtained from area to be operated or some other part of the body). An allograft is a graft obtained from the bone bank. The surgeon can also use synthetic material for the surgery.
Corpectomy
A corpectomy involves the partial or complete surgical removal of a vertebra for relieving the pressure from the spinal cord and nerves. It is used in conditions like stenosis, fractures, bone spurs, spinal tumor or infection in the neck, mid-back or lower back.
Resection of Synovial Cyst
It involves the removal of the synovial cyst and any other structures which compress the nerves. These surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive techniques.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation
It involves the implantation of a small pulse generator into the back to relieve chronic pain in the spinal cord. It helps in blocking the pain.
