With advancements in medicine, most neuro-interventional surgeons have adopted minimally invasive spine surgery. This technique allows surgeons to access the spinal cord without damaging nearby muscles and tissues. A surgeon makes small incisions on the spine and uses special imaging tools to examine and treat the problematic area.
Minimally invasive spine surgery is used to treat spine disorders like stenosis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disorders, spondylolysis, and other spine conditions that cause pain. If you experience pain in your back or neck or your motion is limited in these areas, a surgeon will first determine whether you are a good candidate for spine surgery.
While spine surgery is often the last option when other treatments have failed, it has some side effects. If you are in Idaho, CA, you can ensure that a professional performs your assessment and spine surgery when you seek our services at LAMIS.
An Overview of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery was designed to treat various spine problems. This type of spinal cord surgery is preferred to open spine surgery due to the minimal damage it causes to the tissues. You may be suffering from a spinal cord disorder if you experience symptoms like severe back pain, uncontrolled muscle spasms, loss of sensation, and weakness of the limbs.
If you consult a doctor with these symptoms, you will undergo various diagnostic tests to determine the exact spinal cord disorder. These tests include:
- X-rays. An X-ray can help a surgeon determine the nature and severity of spine fractures
- Spine CT scans, or MRIs
- This is a procedure to check for nerve root damage
- This procedure is used to determine the presence and extent of spinal cord abnormalities
Before resulting in spine surgery, your doctor can recommend other treatment options, including medications and physical therapy. If these treatments do not improve your condition, Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery may be necessary.
You may be a good candidate for spine surgery if you are determined to have the following conditions:
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis is a crack between the bones of your spine caused by damage to your vertebrae. Repetitive motions, growth spurts, and genetics cause the condition. Spondylolysis is common in children and teenagers whose bodies are growing rapidly. You may be suffering from this condition if you experience the following symptoms:
- Muscle strains around your lower back
- Pain that radiates into your thighs and buttocks
- Pain that worsens during physical activity and lessens when you rest
If you experience these symptoms, your surgeon will perform a physical examination and imaging tests to determine whether you have a vertebral fracture. The severity of the fracture also affects whether you are a candidate for Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery.
Herniated Disk
A herniated disk is a spine injury caused by a ruptured, slipped, or bulging disc. The discs act as buffers, allowing the bones of your back to bend easily. Herniated disks are a leading cause of back, neck, and leg pain. You may suffer from a herniated disk because you are overweight, sit for long periods, lift heavy objects, or perform repetitive bending motions.
A herniated disc is characterized by severe back pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and feet, and muscle weakness. These symptoms worsen when you move and may be felt less when you rest.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spaces between the vertebrae are too small. This could put pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that run through it. Although some people with spinal stenosis do not experience any symptoms, the condition is characterized by pain, tingling sensations, and muscle weakness.
Spinal stenosis is caused by wear-and-tear damage related to arthritis and other degenerative disorders. It often occurs in the neck or lower back.
Degenerative Disk Disease
This is a condition that occurs when spinal discs wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions that act as shock absorbers in the spinal cord. This helps you bend and move comfortably without straining your spine. When these disks wear away, the spine's bones can rub together, resulting in pain.
You are at risk of developing degenerative disk disorder if you have suffered acute injuries, you are obese, or your work is physically demanding. The pain associated with DDD can be treated using medication and physical therapy. However, if these treatments are ineffective, you may need spine surgery.
Spinal Tumors
An abnormal mass of cells surrounding the spinal cord is called a spinal tumor. Protected by the spine's bones, the spinal cord is a cylindrical structure that extends from the brain to the lower back. Spinal tumors can develop anywhere on the spinal column, including the vertebrae and the surrounding tissues. Most spinal tumors result from cancer that has spread from another area to the spinal cord.
Spinal tumors differ depending on their location and origin. Common types of spinal tumors include:
- This is a type of tumor that develops inside the spinal cord.
- These are malignant tumors that form from the skull to the tailbone.
- This type of tumor covers the brain and spinal cord and, when left untreated, can be life-threatening.
- This is a tumor that grows on the spinal fluid lining.
Spinal tumors cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the limbs. The size and location of the tumor determine the severity of the symptoms.
Common Types of Spinal Surgery
You should consult a surgeon if you have symptoms like severe back and neck pain and numbness that persist after medication or physical therapy. After an assessment and diagnostic tests to determine the type of spinal cord disorder you have, the surgeon can recommend Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery procedures, including:
Laminectomy
Surgical intervention may be necessary to relieve neck and back pain that causes difficulties with day-to-day functioning. A laminectomy is a surgical technique used to remove the vertebral bone that is pressing on the spinal nerve. The pressure on the spinal cord is lessened when this bone is removed. If various treatments fail to relieve your pain, you might be a good candidate for a laminectomy. If you are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease or herniated discs, your surgeon may suggest a laminectomy.
Discectomy
Removing all or a portion of the spinal disc is done surgically during a discectomy. Because spinal discs are always under pressure, they may eventually deteriorate. When one or more discs rupture or slip out of position, you could experience pain, numbness, and tingling in your neck, back, and limbs.
A competent surgeon will use a minimally invasive surgical technique to remove the problematic disc. This helps relieve your pain and reduce the risk of complications.
Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a surgical procedure to enlarge the spinal cord's exit point for the nerve roots is called a foraminotomy. A narrow foramen can crush spinal nerves, resulting in discomfort and numbness. By making a passageway for the nerves, a foraminotomy alleviates the symptoms of nerve compression.
Foraminotomy can take several forms, depending on where the compressed nerve is located. These include cervical laminectomy, sacral laminectomy, thoracic foraminotomy, and lumbar foraminotomy. Your Idaho, Minimally Invasive Spine surgeon will remove the foramen bone to enlarge the nerve root entrance during the foraminotomy surgery, which involves making tiny incisions through the skin close to the afflicted area.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to link two vertebrae together. These vertebrae will support each other and reinforce the stability of your back structure. Your surgeon can recommend spinal fusion if you have a weakness at a particular point of your spinal cord. These weak points put pressure on the spinal nerves, causing pain and numbness.
Your surgeon can recommend spinal fusion for conditions like herniated disks, pinched nerves, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis.
Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a procedure used to treat fractured vertebrae. It involves injecting a special cement into the fractured vertebrae. A Surgeon will recommend vertebroplasty if the pain associated with your fractured vertebrae does not resolve with pain relievers, physical therapy, and back braces. After your Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery, you can experience pain relief and improved mobility.
Complications of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) has gained popularity in the United States because it can improve a patient's condition with minimal complications. As medical technology continues to evolve, healthcare providers are faced with choosing between MISS and open spine surgery.
The risks associated with Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery vary depending on the type of surgery, the patient’s overall health, and the surgical team’s skill. Common complications associated with the procedure include the following:
Anesthesia Risks
Although MISS involves small incisions, unlike open back surgery, the surgeon administers anesthesia before the procedure. You could suffer the following anesthesia complications, depending on your health:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling in the throat
- Heart attack
- Seizures
- Changes in heart rate
To avoid this complication, you must be forthcoming with your medical history and the surgeon before you undergo spine surgery.
Bleeding
Small skin incisions are made to access the troublesome spinal cord segment during minimally invasive spine surgery. In contrast to open spine surgery, there is less chance of severe bleeding. On the other hand, individuals using blood thinners or suffering from blood coagulation disorders can experience bleeding. If the bleeding doesn't stop, you must seek help immediately.
Nerve Damage
Although minimally invasive spine surgery involves making small incisions through the skin, there is always a risk of nerve damage when you undergo spine surgery. This could occur from the instruments used in the surgery or from scar formation after the surgery.
Damage to the nerves of the spinal cord can cause pain and numbness and, in severe cases, result in paralysis. If you suffer an injury to a nerve near the pelvic bone, you could suffer sexual dysfunction.
Dural Tear
Dura mater is a watertight sack that covers the spine and its nerves. A tear of the dural sack could occur during spine surgery. If the tear is not noticed and repaired, it can cause continued leakage of the spinal fluid, which could increase the risk of infection, commonly known as spinal meningitis.
Infection
There is a risk of infection any time you undergo surgery. After an Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery, an infection could occur on the skin surface where the incisions are made or spread into the tissues and spinal cord. Although infections with MISS are rare, you may be at risk of compromised immunity.
Your surgeon can reduce the risk of infection by sterilizing the equipment and your skin before making the incisions. Additionally, they can prescribe antibiotics for you to take after the surgery.
Failed Surgery
Spine surgery is often a last resort when other treatments for spinal cord disorders are ineffective in treating your symptoms. Unfortunately, not all spine surgeries yield the desired outcome. If your surgery does not result in improved symptoms or you continue to experience pain and discomfort, you may need follow-up surgery to correct the disorder.
Complications Related to Pre-existing Conditions
Your risk of developing complications after an Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery is increased if you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes, early disease, or obesity. Before the procedure, you must discuss your conditions with your neuro-interventional surgeon.
Find a Competent Spine Surgeon Near Me
If you experience persistent pain in your back, neck, or limbs, you may need an assessment to determine the exact spine condition from which you are suffering. The surgeon will use different techniques, including physical examination, X-rays, and MRIs. If you have conditions like a herniated disk, degenerative disc disorders, or a spine injury, you may be a good candidate for spine surgery.
Due to the increased risk of complications with traditional spine surgery, surgeons opt to use the minimally invasive technique, which involves smaller incisions, to correct the disorders. Minimally invasive spine surgery can be used for procedures like spinal decompressions, disc removal, and spinal fusion.
Consulting an experienced neuro-interventional surgeon can ensure that your Idaho minimally invasive spine surgery yields the desired results and reduces the risk of infection. At LAMIS, we offer safe, reliable, and effective spine surgery for patients with different spine disorders. Contact us at 310-734-6088 to book an appointment.
