Neck and back pain may become common medical issues as you age. In instances where pain medication and physical therapy are not enough to alleviate the pain, back surgery may be prescribed. However, did you know that back surgery does not necessarily mean a long, invasive, and painful procedure?
Minimally invasive spine surgery is considered a better alternative to open back surgery. Numerous orthopedic surgeons prefer this type of procedure to provide their patients that much needed back pain relief.
So why is minimally invasive spine surgery better than traditional orthopedic surgery? Spine Center of Texas will be listing the reasons why:
- Minimally invasive spine surgery is safer
Minimally invasive spine surgery is a safer alternative to traditional open back surgery – both during and post surgery. Surgeons are only required to make small, two centimeter incisions during a minimally invasive surgery. Open back surgery on the other hand involves large incisions through the back muscles, causing sever damage to the muscles and significant blood loss. During a minimally invasive procedure, the muscle is pulled aside instead of cut in order to reach the affected spine area. This leads to fewer side effects, less infection risks, less blood loss, and less recovery time.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery is quicker
Traditional orthopedic surgery requires patients to be out of commission for several weeks. Because of the blood loss and large muscle incision, patients also need to undergo longer recovery time and physical therapy. Minimally invasive surgery only takes about two hours. Patients who undergo the procedure are even be allowed to recover at home without having to experience the stress and inconvenience linked with traditional orthopedic surgery.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery is less painful
Aside from less pain during surgery, minimally invasive surgery also helps patient to return to their normal activities with fewer painful experiences. This is true, because minimally invasive techniques don’t require the large incisions and muscle damage that are typically associated with back surgery.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery is applicable for a range of back conditions
Minimally invasive techniques can treat multiple conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, pinched nerves, degenerative disc disease, and many more.
