Least Invasive Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive Surgery
At Spine INA, we use the term “least-invasive surgery” to describe our procedures instead of “minimally invasive surgery.” You may have heard of the latter, but not the former. Minimally invasive procedures and least-invasive procedures certainly overlap, but they are still two distinct approaches. Do you want the better option, or do you want the best?
What Is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Surgical procedures involving the neck and spine traditionally involve open surgery. During open surgery, the doctor uses a long incision to see and get to the target area. These traditional methods cause injury not only to the cut tissue but also to the pulled-back muscle. More injury means more complications and longer recovery time. Consequently, medical professionals developed minimally invasive surgery to reduce the harmful effects of surgical procedures.
Doctors can use minimally invasive procedures to resolve the same issues as traditional surgery. Usually, a physician will recommend surgery when nonsurgical remedies don’t relieve pain effectively. Now that we have minimally invasive techniques, we can further reduce the potential injury caused when we must choose surgery. If your doctor can find the exact location of your pain, they can conduct minimally invasive surgery instead of traditional procedures.
Methods Used in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive spine and neck surgery involve many different methods that depend on the doctor’s techniques and the patient’s diagnosis. In general, these approaches use smaller incisions and specialized tools.
Most procedures use tubular retractors inserted into small incisions. These instruments create a tunnel to the affected area of the body and separate muscles instead of cutting them. The surgeon then uses small tools that fit through the tubular retractor, so only the tissue and bone at the end of the tube get treated. If multiple parts of the body need surgery, they can simply make another small incision and insert another tubular retractor. Once the surgeon finishes, they can remove the tubular retractor to let the muscles move back to their original position.
To see the inside of the patient’s body, the surgeon uses fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy uses X-ray technology to create a real-time video showing the projected area. Since back and neck problems can happen on a very small scale, a microscope can help the surgeon look at the affected area in detail. The surgeon doesn’t get to see what they operate on directly, but they also don’t have to make a large incision.
About Least-Invasive Surgery
Least-invasive surgery methods all fall under the category of minimally invasive procedures. So what is the difference? As their name implies, least-invasive surgery methods use the least invasive techniques currently possible. Minimally invasive surgical methods require specialized training and equipment, but least-invasive approaches need the most specialized knowledge and tools out there. Least-invasive surgical methods greatly enhance the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, putting it into a category of its own.
At Spine INA, our physicians have received extensive training that gives them the expertise to use these innovative techniques. We go to these lengths to ensure our patients have the greatest relief and shortest recovery times possible. With less pain and idle time, our patients can get back to their lives faster than ever.
Least-Invasive Surgery Methods
To create the lowest impact possible on our patients’ bodies, we use endoscopic spine procedures. During these surgeries, we can use the smallest incisions and tubular retractors out there thanks to a specialized camera. While some minimally invasive surgeries require a tubular retractor that can still result in extra recovery time, endoscopic spine procedures use a compact one. Our microscopic HD camera fits right into this small tunnel, so we don’t need a larger tubular retractor or a longer incision.
We provide four different types of endoscopic procedures:
- Transforaminal endoscopic discectomy: Removing a painful herniated disc doesn’t have to require a large opening. During this operation, we remove it through the tubular retractor. To ensure the area heals properly, we use a high-tech laser that shrinks and closes the tears left behind by the removal. The patient can recover within a few weeks.
- Endoscopic foraminoplasty: When excess tissue or bone presses on your nerve or spinal cord, a foraminoplasty can remove that pressure. The traditional surgery forces the patient to recover for 12 months. Meanwhile, our endoscopic method lets patients recover incredibly quickly. In fact, some of them can begin post-operative physical therapy the same day they undergo the procedure.
- Endoscopic laminotomy: If a narrowed spinal canal is putting pressure on the nerves and conservative treatment has failed to relieve the pain, an endoscopic laminotomy might be performed. In this procedure, a surgeon creates incisions above and below the spinal disk to relieve pressure. The surgeon can also address herniated disks, bone spurs and other issues at the same time.
- Endoscopic rhizotomy: Irritated nerves near the spine’s facet joints cause chronic lower back pain and discomfort. Sometimes a doctor needs to disable those nerves to offer the patient pain relief. While traditional rhizotomies use needles inserted in multiple places, the endoscopic approach has only one point of entry. The pain relief lasts for years after the procedure.
Endoscopic Spine Procedures: The Logical Choice
Minimally invasive surgical procedures may try to reduce injury and healing time, but they can still cause discomfort and inconvenience. Cutting-edge endoscopic approaches like the ones we use at Spine INA make the entire process easier for the patient. The choice is clear — only the least-invasive options will do.
Pain management needs a holistic solution that considers all aspects of pain. Whether or not you need surgery, a physician at Spine INA can evaluate your symptoms and recommend the least invasive course of action. Schedule an appointment today.
