Not long ago, the only way to reach your spine to treat spinal injury was to make a large incision in the back and strip and remove the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and bony tissues. This surgical approach to reaching the spine and treating its issue is named open surgery.
A typical open surgery procedure, which is a standard procedure to treat spine issues, can cause significant pain and disability on its own.
About 50 years before, the researchers used modern knowledge of anatomy, various diagnostic techniques, high-tech tools, and specialized surgical equipment to transform standard surgical techniques(open spine surgery) into a new era of spinal surgery – minimally invasive spine surgery.
Let’s discuss what minimally invasive spine surgery is, how it works, how it has evolved over the years, and where you can go for this surgery in Colorado Springs, CO.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What Is It?
Minimally invasive spine surgery is what its name implies – it is a type of surgery performed on the bones of your spine using smaller incisions than open surgery. MISS causes less harm to the muscles, nerves, and other tissues surrounding the targeted area, thereby leading to less pain and faster recovery. Reduced chances of infection is another best bit of minimally invasive spine surgery that makes it popular among surgeons and patients.
How Does It Work?
Spinal discs, vertebrae, and nerves are located deep inside the body. And to reach the area of the spine, the requirement is to move the muscles and other tissues out of the way.
There is no such requirement with minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). MISS procedure utilizes one or two small incisions and a tubular retractor – a stiff, tube-shaped tool. This tube-shaped tool gently pushes the muscle and soft tissues aside and creates a tunnel to the problem area. After that, small tools are sent to work on the target area. Special microscopic video cameras are also sent through these incisions to view the real-time images of the spine.
How has Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Evolved Over the Years?
To date, remarkable innovations have occurred in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) in terms of the procedure performed and indications for its use.
Some recent developments in minimally invasive spine surgery are:
Robotic navigation and image guidance
The current technological advancements allow spine surgeons to plan surgical operations in a virtual 3D environment which helps them create a surgical blueprint for each patient.
Thereafter, during the procedure, robotic guidance can be used to ensure the precise placement of devices.
Expanding Minimally Invasive Indications
The sacroiliac is a long joint that can be a frequent source of undiagnosed and untreated back pain. Previously injections, physical therapy, and radiofrequency procedures were used to treat sacroiliac joint issues, but they failed to provide results.
In the past, sacroiliac fusion has been done using a large open incision, but the results were not satisfactory. Now minimally invasive techniques have been developed to perform the sacroiliac fusion. These techniques have emerged as a reasonable and successful option for back pain relief.
Minimally Invasive Methods Treating Disc Pathology
Currently, there are some new methods developed to treat disc conditions and injuries. These include chemonucleolysis, percutaneous laser discectomy, intradiscal electrical, and radiofrequency thermocoagulation.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery in Colorado Springs, CO
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, we are committed to the continued utilization, advancement, and development of minimally invasive surgery techniques. Our spine surgeons are highly trained and experienced in treating a wide range of spine and brain issues using such techniques so that our patients can get back on their feet faster and enjoy their life to the fullest.
To learn about our comprehensive services or make an appointment, call us today at (303) 790-1800 or fill out our convenient online request form.
