All About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery!

There are two primary goals of both the types of Spine Surgery, Open and Minimally Invasive. They are decompression and stabilization. Spinal decompression refers to the removal of tissues which compress the nerve structures. Spinal stabilization prevents the abnormal movement of one or more spine segment.

Muscle damage is one of the major drawbacks of Open Spine Surgery. It is caused due to muscle retraction or pulling which damages the muscle and the soft tissue surrounding it. Muscle retraction exposes more region than required for the surgeon to see and work on, thus typically affecting more anatomy than required. This results in a greater risk of muscle injury and prolongs the recovery period, which is not the case with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

A tubular retractor is used for creating a passageway to reach the problem area during the Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. It is inserted through a small incision. It is passed down to the affected spinal column through the skin and soft tissues. Tubular retractor holds the muscles open throughout the procedure.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery can be performed under both, general anesthesia and regional anesthesia. Under the influence of the general anesthesia, the patients are numb and sleep throughout the procedure. Under the influence of the regional anesthesia, the patients are only numb but awake.