Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in your lower back), lumbar degenerative disc disease, sciatica, scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine), and herniated lumbar disc are among the common culprits in chronic low back pain.
If you’ve been diagnosed with any of these spine conditions and dogged by low back pain that is resistant to conservative interventions, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend a minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) to provide you with lasting relief.
Read on to get a better understanding of how you can exactly benefit from a minimally invasive surgery if you have chronic lower back pain.
How Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgeries Work
Spine surgeries done via the minimally invasive approach utilize intraoperative spinal navigation. This means they are carried out using image guidance, either a type of X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) or a miniature video camera (endoscope), which projects real-time images on a monitor. Image guidance ensures precision and safety throughout the procedure.
During minimally invasive spine surgery, your neurosurgeon creates small incisions into which they insert segmental tubular retractors to create an expandable tunnel between muscles to gain access to the spine. Tubular retractors are instrumental in preserving structures crucial for providing spinal stability, protecting the soft tissues from damage, and reducing the risk of blood loss during the procedure.
As with the traditional approach, the goal of minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery is to eliminate the discomforts associated with scoliosis, herniated lumbar discs, and other spine conditions and slow their progression by stabilizing the spinal joints and vertebral bones and/or decompressing the spinal nerves.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Minimally invasive spinal surgeries have various demonstrable advantages over the traditional approach (open surgery), as they involve smaller cuts, which translate into:
- Shorter hospital stays
- Faster recovery / quicker return to work or normal day-to-day activities
- Reduced pain, injury to soft tissues, and risk of blood loss
- Lower risk of infection
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery in Colorado Springs, CO
Here at Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, our board-certified neurosurgeons—Dr. Michael Rauzzinoa and Dr. Kevin Boyer—routinely perform a wide range of spinal surgeries via minimally invasive techniques: lumbar fusion, lumbar decompression, kyphoplasty, and more. We have helped countless patients in Colorado regain their normal function and live pain-free lives. Let us help you, too!
To find out if you’re a good candidate for a minimally invasive spinal surgery, call us at (303) 790-1800 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation with one of our neurosurgeons here at Front Range Neurosurgery.
