How Effective is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
If your back pain hasn’t resolved after more conservative treatment, spinal surgery can be a way to get your life back and return to the activities you love. Through minimally invasive spine surgery, our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh are able to provide effective treatment that has several advantages over the traditional, “open” procedure.
We’ll examine the benefits and effectiveness of this spine surgery, what it is used to treat, and how to determine if you may be a candidate.
The Effectiveness of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Overall, minimally invasive spinal surgery has a success rate of around 90 percent.
What Are the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
During traditional, “open” spinal surgery, an incision must be made, and then the surgeon then moves the muscles apart to access the spinal column. By comparison, minimally invasive spine surgery involves making a smaller incision—sometimes only a few millimeters long– and inserting a surgical “tunnel” retractor that allows access to the problem area without cutting muscles.
Depending upon the scope of the procedure, some of these surgeries may be performed on an outpatient basis.
Some of the advantages of minimally invasive spinal surgery include:
- Faster recovery
- Less blood loss
- Reduced pain after the operation (and less need for pain medications post surgery)
- Reduced infection risk
- Less rehabilitation required
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Each case is different, so it’s difficult to precisely name a time when a patient has fully recovered. However, if the patient follows their orthopedic surgeon’s instructions closely, there’s an average recovery time of six weeks.
What Conditions Are Treated With Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Common conditions treated using this technique include:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal deformities
- Spinal instability
- Tumors
- Compression fractures
Are You a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
As orthopedic specialists in Raleigh, we realize that each individual situation is different, and that’s why we carefully evaluate each patient to ensure that the treatment they receive for their pain is tailored for their situation.
It’s also important to note that we take a conservative approach to medicine—we do not operate unless non-surgical methods have not achieved the desired results.
In general, the best candidates for minimally invasive spine surgery:
- Are experiencing pain that dramatically affects their day-to-day life
- Are those for whom more conservative treatments have been unsuccessful
- Are at a healthy weight
- Are in general good health
In addition, this type of spinal surgery is particularly useful for those who have spinal disc-related problems such as spondylolisthesis, herniated discs or spinal stenosis. It’s also an ideal option for seniors who may not be eligible for an “open” procedure.
See Why We’re the Leading Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons in Raleigh
We believe there’s more to orthopedics than state-of-the-art equipment. Granted—we have the latest technology to help you. This includes ultrasound-guided injections as well as Wake County’s first open bore MRI.
But we think there should be more to health care than advanced imaging. We believe quality centers around the patient and fully understanding their needs. Our team-approach to medicine combines the best of compassion and excellence.
We’re also an independent, community-based practice—one of the few in the Triangle area. Because our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh are affiliated with 5 different medical centers, our patients have an extensive choice of where they’d like to have their procedure.
If back pain has made your day-to-day living difficult, and you’ve had problems finding any relief, schedule an appointment and see if surgery can be the solution you’re seeking.
