Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

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Minimally invasive spine surgery was developed to treat spine problems with less injury to the muscles and other normal structures in the spine. It also helps the surgeon to see only the location where the problem exists in the spine.
Minimally invasive spine surgery reduces trauma to the muscles and soft tissues. Other benefits are-
  • Less blood loss
  • Small incisions
  • Better cosmetic results with small incisions
  • Reduced risk of muscle damage
  • Reduced chances of infection and postoperative pain
  • Fast recovery time
  • Less requirement for pain medications
  • Shorter hospital stays

Types of minimally invasive spine surgery 

MIS Lumbar Discectomy

A herniated disc in the lower back pinches the nerve in the spinal canal causing pain, numbness, or weakness of the legs. To get relief from these symptoms, the disc is removed by a procedure known as a diskectomy. Discectomy can be done by open method or a minimally invasive lumbar decompression approach where by a small 18mm diameter tube is inserted to the spine and discectomy is performed through the tube.

MIS Lumbar Fusion 

When the patient needs a lumbar fusion surgery the screws can be inserted percutaneously through a guide wire and discectomy with interbody cage insertion can be done through a slightly wider tube. This procedure is called Minimally invasive transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS TLIF)

Complications of Minimally Invasive Spine surgery

There are some risks associated with MIS Spine surgery. The potential complications of minimally invasive spine surgery may include-

Infection- The patient is given antibiotics before, during, and after the surgery to lessen the risk of infection.

Bleeding- A small amount of bleeding is possible but not significant.

Recurring symptoms- Some patients may experience recurring symptoms.

Pseudarthrosis- This is a condition in which there is no proper bone formation and a spinal fusion. It most commonly occurs in patients who are chronic smokers.

Nerve damage- Nerve damage is possible with these operations, but the risk is not higher than open surgery in experienced hands.

Recovery from the Minimally invasive Spine surgery

The patients are allowed to go home on the same day or maximum in a day or two. Minimally invasive spine surgeries do not disrupt the muscles and soft tissues. Your surgeon will advise you to practice physical therapy after 1 or 2 weeks as it helps the you to regain strength and speed the recovery. The time required to start normal activities depends on individual surgical procedures and conditions but usually in 1-2 weeks, patients can go back to their normal routine with some restriction on physical activities.

If you have been advised to undergo a spine surgery, then get a second opinion from another neurosurgeon to know if you are a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) uses small incisions and specialized instruments under fluoroscopic or endoscopic guidance, causing less muscle disruption, blood loss, and scarring compared to open surgery. Recovery is faster, hospital stay is shorter, and post-operative pain is reducedmaking it preferable for appropriate candidates.

Conditions well-suited for MISS include lumbar disc herniation, lumbar canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and thoracic or lumbar fractures. Dr. Rajeswaran evaluates each patient’s anatomy and condition severity to determine whether minimally invasive or open surgery is the safer and more effective option.

Recovery after MISS is significantly faster. Most patients are walking within 24 hours and discharged in 1–3 days. Return to light work is typically possible in 2–4 weeks, while return to heavy physical activity takes 6–12 weeks. Open surgery typically requires 4–6 days of hospitalization and a longer rehabilitation period.