Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is the latest advanced technology available to perform spinal surgeries through small, less than one inch long, incisions. It involves the use of special surgical instruments, devices and advanced imaging techniques to visualize and perform the surgery through such small incisions. MISS is aimed at minimizing damage to the muscles and surrounding structures. MISS possesses numerous benefits over the traditional spine surgery that includes:
With advances in technology, a number of spine surgeries can be performed through a minimally invasive approach including anterior cervical disectomy and fusion (ACDF), kyphoplasty, posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion, anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF), axial lumbar interbody fusion(AxiaLIF) and direct lateral lumbar interbody fusion (DLIF).
Minimally invasive surgery is suitable only for selected patients. Thus before the surgery, the patient’s medical history and various diagnostic tests, such as X-rays or other imaging tests, are used to ascertain the underlying spinal conditions causing pain and other associated symptoms. The current health status of the patient is also evaluated through blood tests and other specialized tests, for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. The decision of performing the surgery through a minimally invasive approach is decided by the surgeon based on their experience and the benefits to the patient as compared to the traditional open spine surgery.