Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MIS)

Minimally invasive spine surgery or MIS allows surgeons to perform many spinal procedures through skin punctures or incisions less than 1-inch long. MIS is performed to treat herniated discs, spinal stenosis, some types of spinal deformity. Many MIS procedures are performed on an outpatient basis.

Instead of long incisions and extensive tissue disruption, MIS uses an endoscope inserted through the incision. An endoscope is a thin telescope-like instrument with a lighted tube and camera attachment. Surgery is performed by passing instruments through the endoscope to the operative field. The light illuminates the field and the camera transmits images to a monitor in the operating room.

Advantages

Generally, the outcomes of procedures performed minimally invasively mimic outcomes of open spine surgery that requires long incisions and soft tissue retraction. Advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery include:

• Reduced operative time
• Less soft tissue damage, due to reduced muscle retraction
• Reduced blood loss
• Surgical incisions are less painful and heal faster
• Recovery is faster with less postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Scars are cosmetically more pleasing

Our Use of MIS Several MIS procedures we perform include:

• Discectomy
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
• Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
• Others

Conclusion

Our priority is to provide our patients with the best care. Therefore, the minimally invasive spine surgical techniques we perform are those scientifically proven to be safe and most effective to treat your spinal problem. We welcome your questions about minimally invasive spine surgery.