Your Guide to the Least Invasive Spine Procedures
Back pain is the leading cause of work-related disability in the United States. About 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at least once in their lives. If you require treatment for back pain, we know how hard it can be to commit to surgery. You want to find solutions for your pain, but invasive surgery and the extended recovery time it requires can seem inconvenient or even frightening.
While open surgery is the standard method of spinal surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) reduces risk and recovery time. To help you make the best decision, here’s our guide to minimally invasive spine surgery, its benefits and three of the least invasive spine procedures used today.
What Is Least Invasive Spine Surgery?
Least invasive spine surgery targets the bones in your back or spinal column while minimizing pain, blood loss and recovery time. Compared to the longer incisions used in traditional spine surgery, the smaller incisions used in minimally invasive procedures result in less trauma to the tendons and muscles in the back.
Minimally invasive procedures are usually completed using tools like cameras and other small devices to help the surgeon see the spine structures and address problems.
Different patient needs require different operations. That’s why we’re here to help you find the option that’s right for you.
Why Choose Least Invasive Procedures?
Many people choose least invasive procedures because of the benefits. Least invasive spine surgery comes with less risks than open surgery. The goal of MISS is to minimize collateral damage to soft tissues and decrease muscle dissection and disruption of ligament attachment sites.
Advantages of least invasive spine procedures include:
- Smaller incisions
- Less post-operative pain
- Less cutting through small tissues
- Outpatient options
- Faster recovery
Least invasive procedures also have high success rates. In our experience, most MISS procedures have success rates of 80 percent or more. Depending on your condition, a minimally invasive surgery could relieve your back pain for several years.
Three Least Invasive Spine Procedures to Consider
Here are three common types of minimally invasive spinal procedures you might want to consider:
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- Endoscopic surgery: In endoscopic spine surgery, a doctor inserts a small endoscope camera into the back through a small incision. Using real-time guidance from the camera, the doctor then completes the procedure using small tools to decompress discs, remove bone spurs or otherwise address the cause of your back pain. Common types of endoscopic spine surgery include endoscopic discectomy, endoscopic foraminalplasty and endoscopic rhizotomy.
- Neuromodulation: Neuromodulation therapies deliver electrical pulses to nerves in the spinal cord to block pain signals or stimulate damaged nerves. Neuromodulation can be used to treat chronic back pain, nerve pain, mobility issues and more. Patients are usually given a local anesthetic and stay alert during the procedure.
- Regenerative procedures: Regenerative medicine aims to use the body’s natural healing capabilities to spur the replacement of damaged tissue. When you elect to have a regenerative spinal procedure, the surgeon will use ultrasound guidance to inject platelet-rich plasma or an irritating substance into the area that needs repair.
At Spine INA, we offer many least invasive surgical treatment options, including neuromodulation, regenerative medicine and many types of endoscopic surgery.
Are You a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Least invasive spine procedures offer many benefits: less pain, faster recovery, smaller incisions and fewer risks. You should never suffer alone when experiencing debilitating back pain. At Spine INA, we work closely with you to find the right treatment option to relieve your pain and revive your life.
To find out whether you might be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery, call Spine INA today at (609) 371-9100 or complete our online contact form. We happily provide guidance for residents throughout East Windsor, Marlton and East Brunswick, NJ.
