People who suffer from back pain that can only be relieved by surgery now have more and improved options. Minimally invasive back surgery is an advanced form of microsurgery that's replacing conventional open-back surgery used to repair a wide range of spinal conditions. Although the actual surgical repair is the same in both types of surgery, minimally invasive surgery is faster, cleaner and less damaging to the patient than conventional surgery.
History
In the past, conventional open back surgery was required because the surgeon needed to make a large incision in order to see the nerves and blood vessels near the spine in order to protect them during surgery. This large incision damages important supportive muscles that surround the spine.
Minimally invasive back surgery employs tools and techniques that were once used only to diagnose medical conditions. By the early 1980s, these diagnostic methods were refined to the point that surgical treatments could be performed at the same time.
Procedure
The most minimally invasive back surgery uses a narrow, lighted, telescopic tube called an endoscope--with a miniature video camera attached--to look inside the body. The endoscope is inserted through a small incision, and the internal view of the body is projected onto a nearby television screen. At the same time, a nearby fluoroscope allows the surgeon to see an X-ray of the spine. The surgeon uses small probes, lasers and other instruments to perform the actual surgery. When surgery is completed, the incision is closed and covered with a small bandage.
Function
Many spine conditions, including herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, sciatica (lumbar pain that shoots down the leg), spinal or cervical stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), spondylolisthesis (displaced vertebra), scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine), neck pain and fractures, can be corrected with minimally invasive surgery. Using minimally invasive techniques for spinal decompression surgery allows the surgeon to mechanically dilate (open up) the muscles around your spine to make room for a surgical procedure, instead of having to cut muscle tissue away from the spine.
Benefits
With minimally invasive back surgery, incisions are typically only an inch or less in length. There is less pain, less blood loss, less damage to surrounding muscles, nerves and tissue during surgery, less time in the operating room, faster recovery time and minimal scarring compared to conventional open spinal surgery. Minimally invasive surgery can be performed using local anesthesia and a sedative instead of the general anesthesia required during conventional open back surgery. Surgery that once last four hours can now be performed in under an hour.
Considerations
Not everyone is a candidate for minimally invasive procedures. A surgeon who is experienced in minimally invasive back surgery must first assess whether your back problem can be improved by surgery and if a less invasive procedure would be advantageous. As with any type of surgery, there are risks involved with a minimally invasive procedure--and because this is a relatively new form of back surgery, the long-term benefits and potential complications are not well established.
