Minimally invasive spine surgery is being used at a greater rate than at any previous time in history and has become an increasingly common treatment choice for spinal intervention. Over the past several years, research has demonstrated that a minimally invasive approach produces results that are as good or better than traditional open methods when chosen for particular types of procedures.
The primary advantages of a minimally invasive procedure are a reduction in cost to the patient, which is due to a decreased hospital stay, decreased risk of complications, and faster recovery time. Minimally invasive techniques continue to evolve, with several trends emerging:
- Basic procedures like discectomy’s, which were traditionally performed using an open method, are now being done with a minimally invasive approach on a routine basis. Recent advances in technology are also allowing complex procedures, such as scoliosis correction, to be performed with minimally invasive techniques.
- Minimally invasive techniques have been developed for use with spinal fusion, allowing this to be done more frequently on an outpatient basis.
- Motion preservation is an important goal in the field of spine care. Medical science is pursuing strategies, such as disc regeneration, that have the potential to produce significant pain reduction by returning the disc to a healthy state. Further research in this area is ongoing.
- Accessing the spine laterally (through the side), as opposed to posteriorly (through the back) or anteriorly (through the front), is becoming popular because it has been shown to allow surgeons to perform more complex procedures with far less pain after surgery.
Ultimately, the main driver for the increase in the frequency of minimally invasive surgery is a patient’s choice. Individuals are becoming much more consumer oriented when it comes to their personal healthcare, and are taking the time to educate themselves about their best options.
If you have a spinal injury and would like to find out about the minimally invasive treatment choices we offer, please contact us at our New Braunfels or Seguin offices.
