The spine is a long, tubular series of vertebrae (bones) and protective discs – and every disc sits between each set of two adjacent vertebrae. These bones and discs are stacked on top of each other from the bottom of the skull all the way down to the lower back.
The spine surrounds the spinal cord, which is a crucial part of the central nervous system that enables us to feel sensations and to move around. Because it protects the spinal cord and also lets us move, bend, and twist our torso, the spine is a very important part of the human body.
Because the spine is also very delicate in certain ways, issues with the spine sometimes require surgery to repair. While spinal surgery has been practiced for over a century, medical advancements have enabled spinal surgery to be minimally invasive – therefore making recovery time shorter and outcomes even better than ever before.
Let’s take a look at what minimally invasive spinal surgery is and what its benefits are.
What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is a type of surgical procedure that has been introduced into a variety of different surgical procedures. Surgeons use tiny cameras and advanced medical tools to perform surgery without having to open up the entire part of the body, which was always necessary before with traditional surgical procedures.
Spinal surgery that is minimally invasive allows surgeons to operate on the spine without having to make large incisions in order to access the problematic area. By being able to use cameras to see within the body and perform the procedure using a television screen – which displays the camera feed – surgeons are able to perform spinal surgery through as few and as small incisions as possible.
Benefits of a Less Invasive Spine Operation
Minimally invasive spinal surgery offers many benefits, including:
Less Pain After Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery causes less pain for the patient. This is because there are fewer and smaller incisions made to perform the surgery. Traditional spinal surgery has always required larger incisions, more stitches, and more tissue to heal.
Less Trauma to Healthy Tissue
Another benefit of minimally invasive spinal surgery is that there is less trauma to adjacent healthy tissue while doing the procedure. Because there are minimal incisions made, there is less impact to nearby skin, muscles, and other surrounding tissues. This results in less overall pain and faster healing.
Quicker Recovery
Patients who get minimally invasive spine surgery heal faster than patients who get traditional spine surgery. Their hospital stays are shorter, and they can get back on their feet much more quickly.
Less Scarring
Minimally invasive spinal surgery also results in fewer and smaller scars. Because it aims to minimize the number and sizes of incisions, the skin is impacted much less than in traditional spine surgery.
Spine Surgeons in Colorado
If you need spine surgery, talk to a neurosurgeon here at Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery about whether a minimally invasive approach is best for you. Our experts have decades of experience treating many types of spinal conditions, and we perform minimally invasive spinal surgery on a regular basis.
Call us today at (303) 790-1800 to schedule a consultation, or complete our online appointment request form now. We look forward to taking care of you and helping you get back to the lifestyle you enjoy.
