California

Previously, spine surgeons have been using open or highly invasive back surgery and conventional tools to treat conditions like disc herniation, spinal tumors, spine deformities, spine fractures, and degenerative disc disorders. The traditional treatment for back pain was highly invasive, slow, and risky. Also, the treatment only addressed a few issues, like alleviating pressure on the spinal column and nerve compression.

Today, advancements in surgical techniques and technology have allowed spine surgeons to rectify these spinal cord complications using minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). The treatment is safer, faster, more effective, and has a minimal healing time. At LAMIS Institute, we recommend this revolutionary treatment for back problems to our patients for optimal results. We have a dedicated California minimally invasive spine surgery team that can help treat your spine conditions.

Minimally Invasive Spine or Back Surgery at a Glance

One of the latest procedures our California specialists at LAMIS offer is minimally invasive spine surgery. It is the most current modern technology available to perform back surgeries by making a small incision, approximately one inch on the back. The dental surgeon uses modern surgical tools and imaging techniques to perform back surgery through a minor incision. The procedure aims to relieve pressure caused by spinal nerve compression and stabilize the vertebrae while causing minimal muscle damage. We recommend the treatment over open-back surgery because of the following benefits:

• The treatment is safe.
• It is faster because it only involves a small cut on the back.
• The small incision leaves you with minor surgery scars.
• The risk of blood infection is minimal.
• The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning less blood loss during the operation.
• There is less post-surgery pain.
• Quick healing.
• Reduced hospital stay.
• Low muscle damage because of the minor incision.
• Reduced dependence on pain relievers after the operation.

Additionally, we can perform minimally invasive spine surgery in California on an outpatient basis using only a local anesthetic. Therefore, you do not have to worry about adverse reactions to general anesthesia.

Minimally or Least Invasive Spine Surgery Risks

Even though the least invasive surgery is a minimal procedure, it has risks. One is that you, the patient, can react adversely to the anesthesia. Again, there is the risk of blood loss and localized infection, regardless of the incision size. Besides, when the surgery fails to yield the required result, you could require another procedure or open surgery. Other risks associated with the revolutionary surgery are:

• Leaking of the spinal fluid.
• Bowel or bladder problems.
• Unforeseen blood loss during surgery.
• Infection, regardless of the incision size.
• There is a possibility of fluid accumulation in the lungs, causing pneumonia.
• Vein thrombosis caused by leg blood clots if you are bedridden.
• Insistent pain when the procedure fails to yield the expected outcome.
• The surgery can be left uncompleted after it commences, necessitating a second operation or a complete open surgery.

Conditions Treated by Our California Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Several individuals experience treatable back and neck pain. However, some back problems can be severe to the extent that they require surgery to alleviate the pain and regain normal function. Minimally invasive spine surgery is one surgical technique that addresses spine problems. The method treats back surgery patients with different conditions, including:

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Your back comprises a roll of nerves running through the spinal canal formed by the vertebrae. When the spinal canal or tunnel narrows in the lower back, it causes lumbar spinal stenosis. The term stenosis means narrowing, while lumbar refers to the lower spine area. When the tunnel narrows, it applies pressure to the spine or nerves running through it, causing difficulty walking. Other times, you can feel the need to lean forward when walking to release tension in the lumbar area. Also, when there is pressure on the lower back, your legs feel numb, and if the problem is not addressed early, you could have bladder or fecal control issues.

Osteoarthritis is one of the primary causes of lower back stenosis. Other causes of the condition are contracting spinal canals, back injuries, spinal tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, and particular bone disorders.

The symptoms of the condition include back pain, sciatica, numbness in the legs, loss of sexual ability, loss of bowel control, and severe leg pain. When you experience these symptoms, you should visit us at LAMIS for a diagnosis. After your California minimally invasive spine surgery expert performs a thorough evaluation, they will recommend the most appropriate treatment to address your condition.

Herniated Disc

Your back has rubbery cushions, or discs, that sit between the vertebrae. The pillows have a soft center, the nucleus, covered by a more rigid, rubbery exterior called the annulus. When the nucleus pushes through a torn annulus, disc herniation, otherwise called a ruptured or slipped disk, happens. Slipping can occur in any section of your spine, although it is common in the lumbar area. Based on the location of the rupture, you can experience various symptoms, including:

• Pain in the arms.
• Pain in the legs.
• Radiating numbness or tingling.
• Arm or leg weakness.

Many patients with this back problem do not experience symptoms. And the few who do improve as time passes. The common cause of disc herniation is degeneration, stemming from wear and tear as your age advances. The factors that increase the risk of the condition are excessive body weight, physically demanding occupations, sedentary lifestyles, regular driving, and tobacco smoking.

Even though most symptoms of disc herniation disappear with no treatment, if you experience bladder or fecal dysfunction or worsening symptoms, you should contact LAMIS to speak to our California minimally invasive spine surgery experts.

Spine Infections

Internal bacteria, fungal bacteria, or post-surgery infections are the most common causes of spinal infections. The various types of spinal infections are:

• Vertebral osteomyelitis, the bacterial infection of the vertebral bone.
• Discitis, the infection of vertebral discs.
• Epidural abscesses.

Elements that increase the risk of infection are poor diet, cancer, HIV, diabetes, and obesity. The common symptoms of the condition are fever, back pain, poor appetite, chills, and weight loss.

When you visit us with these symptoms, your California minimally invasive spine surgery specialist will start with the least invasive treatment to arrest the infection, like antibiotics and antifungal medication. If these do not produce results, we will go for the surgery.

Spine Tumors

The malignant, abnormal tissue growth in the backbone causes spinal tumors. Any tumor that develops in the cord or the spine is known as the primary spinal tumor, which applies pressure to the spine. Any tumor that grows outside the spine area but spreads to the spine is a secondary spine tumor, usually cancerous. The symptoms associated with spine tumors are:

• Fecal or bladder dysfunction.
• Muscle function loss.
• Loss of sensation in the legs.
• Muscle weakness that leads to difficulty walking, falls, and stumbles.

We encourage you to call us if you experience these symptoms for a thorough evaluation to determine the most appropriate treatment, including the least invasive back surgery.

Lumbar Radiculopathy or Sciatica

Sciatica is another back problem that is treatable using minimally invasive spine surgery. The condition refers to the compression of sciatic nerve roots by a ruptured disc or bone spur. The illness typically affects one leg, causing radiating pain, tingling, numbness, and searing.

Spondylosis

Spondylosis happens when the structure of your spine begins to change due to aging, causing disc and facet joint degeneration. The condition is the primary cause of neck and back pain that worsens as age increases.

Your Back Surgery Consultation in California

You will require a thorough examination before undergoing the surgery. The consultation for minimally invasive spine surgery is critical to establishing your candidacy for the treatment and crafting a plan for the surgery. Also, during the appointment, our California minimally invasive spine surgery professionals will deliberate on your health history, any restrictions, and your current medications or treatment.

Your surgeon will conduct an x-ray, review your health history, and discuss your options, including minimally invasive back surgery. The neurological surgeon will also explain your expectations and offer pre- and post-surgery instructions. The surgeon will also deliberate on your anesthetic options and answer all your questions about the procedure.

Spinal injuries or conditions are severe. If you suffer from any of them, you should talk to a qualified and certified California minimally invasive spine surgery neurosurgeon for a way forward, including spine surgery, to fix the problem and restore your natural function.

Preparing for a Surgery

When preparing for the surgery, LAMIS recommends that you stop smoking for quick healing. Besides, you should stop all non-essential herbal remedies or medications, as they could react to the local anesthetic. Again, your specialist will administer antibiotics days before the surgery to prevent bacterial infections.

Various Minimally Invasive Back Surgery Techniques

At LAMIS, we adopt different minimally invasive spine surgery techniques based on your unique needs and illness. These methods are:

1. Tubular Retractor Technique

The technique utilizes tubes to dilate muscles and let your surgeon access the backbone through a minor cut instead of cutting open the back like in conventional open surgery. The operation is challenging, but it is quick and minimally invasive.

An endoscope attached to the tubes gives the surgeon a precise view of the spine and where the problem is. Once the surgeon performs the necessary modifications, the tubular retractors are pulled out, allowing the dilated soft tissue to regain normalcy. This makes the method quick and efficient.

2. Direct Lateral Access

If the problem with your spine is in the lumbar area, your surgeon accesses your spinal column via your body’s side. The surgeon will ask you to lie on your side at a lateral point to allow for the placement of a tubular retractor to view the discs and vertebral bones. The procedure applies direct light in these areas for clear visibility.

3. Percutaneous Technique

Sometimes, your back problem could necessitate the surgeon placing screws, rods, or even implants to stabilize the backbone. Other times, the surgeon can be forced to attach instruments to the joints to keep the spine immobile in a spinal fusion procedure. These instruments are placed through a minor cut on the skin without an incision through the underlying muscle. Fluoroscopy guided percutaneous placement for a safe and precise insertion.

4. Thoracoscopic Access

Particular spine illnesses require the surgeon to access the front section of the thoracic spine. Conventional open surgeries make a large cut on the chest and sometimes extract a few ribs. However, using minimally invasive spine surgery, the surgeon adopts the thoracoscopic technique by cutting a small section of the skin to allow for the insertion of an endoscope. Doing so facilitates the treatment, reduces muscle harm, and requires a minor surgical incision.

Treatment Options

Your neurosurgeon can adopt multiple surgical techniques based on your conditions. One of these is the discectomy. Your surgeon will rely on this technique for a slipped disc. If you have the disease, your surgeon will perform surgery to shape the ruptured disc and alleviate compression on the nerves. The advanced tools required for the procedure are an endoscope and tubular dilators.

Similarly, your California minimally invasive spine surgery expert will utilize the spinal decompression approach if you suffer from spinal stenosis. The surgeon will pull back soft tissue and bones in the procedure using tube-shaped dilators and an endoscope.

Lastly, the neurosurgeon can utilize the Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) when disc degeneration is causing lower back pain or you have a disc herniation. In the procedure, you lay on your stomach, and your spine specialist will make two minor cuts on the affected disc. The surgeon then inserts pedicle rivets and rods through the incisions. Doing so addresses any weaknesses in the vertebrae and ensures proper space and movement in the spine. Magnetic resonance imaging is necessary for this treatment to identify the location of the tumor, if any, and avoid hurting vital organs like the lungs.

Expectations after a Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally or least invasive spine surgery is not time-consuming and requires minimal time to heal. Your surgeon will discuss therapy indications like physical therapy (PT) and the duration it will take to recover fully. Also, minimally invasive spine surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you will return home the same day. Also, the average recovery duration for surgery is half that of a conventional open spinal operation. Within two weeks, you will be ready to resume your routines.

Also, you should expect mild to no discomfort because the operation does not interfere with the nearby muscles like in open surgery. Again, there is minimal scarring because of the small incisions.

Find the Right California Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Specialist Near Me

We at LAMIS Institute see minimally invasive spine surgery as a revolutionary answer to back problems. Conditions like spinal tumors, spinal stenosis, and disc herniation require attention from a qualified professional. Call us today at 310-734-6088 to evaluate your spinal cord problem and decide on the appropriate treatment in California.