The advancement of technology has brought tremendous changes in the medical field, including how surgical treatments are performed. Today, spine surgeons do not depend solely on invasive open-spine surgeries to correct underlying issues that cause back pain. Minimally invasive surgeries are becoming popular because they are safer, easier, and more effective. People experiencing back pain due to spine-related conditions can now find relief without worrying about how long the surgery will take, how much bleeding they will experience, and how long it will take to heal. Through minimally invasive spine surgery or MISS, you can obtain relief from pain and recover within a few days.
However, you must engage a skilled and experienced spine surgeon for safe, effective, and timely treatment. LAMIS offers convenient, reliable, and quality minimally invasive spine surgeries. Our spine surgeons have the proper training and experience to diagnose the actual cause of backache. We will also develop the best treatment plan for your needs and preferences. Thus, we are your best choice if you need spine-related treatment and care in Maryland.
What Maryland Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Entails
MISS is a new treatment procedure spine surgeons in Maryland offer. It is an alternative to traditional open surgery that addresses different spine conditions. MISS includes making a small cut of a few inches on the back to access the area that requires treatment in or around your spine. The benefit here is that the small incision does not cause significant harm to your back, soft tissues, muscles, or bones. This is why you do not require a long recovery after a minimally invasive procedure.
If you are experiencing back pain, your doctor will first determine the cause of the pain. They will perform diagnostic procedures, including X-rays, to determine the spine condition causing your pain. This also helps them determine the treatment area, where the surgeon will make a small cut during treatment. The surgeon can insert a tubular retractor through the small incision to create a tunnel to access the treatment site properly. Spine surgeons performing MISS rely on the latest technologies, including diagnostic tools and surgical devices, to ensure the treatment succeeds.
MISS aims to correct the anomaly in your back that is causing your spine condition. This includes decompressing nerves, removing bone fragments, or correcting torn or herniated discs. MISS is also used to stabilize the backbone segments experiencing abnormal movements. Once the anomaly is corrected, the surgeon will stitch back the tiny incision and give you a few days to recover.
Here are examples of the surgical procedures spine surgeons can treat using Maryland minimally invasive spine surgery:
- Microdiscectomy is performed to remove a part of or all of the damaged or bulging disc (herniated disc) in the lower part of your spine
- Microlaminectomy is the procedure for patients that have bone spurs or fragments compressing their spinal nerves. This procedure is used to treat spine conditions like herniated lumbar discs and lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Foraminotomy is done when the surgeon wants to enlarge an area around your compressed nerves in the spinal column.
- Advanced spine surgery like spinal fusion is needed to restore your spine’s stability and eliminate painful movements.
- A cervical discectomy is performed to relieve back pain when the cause of the pain is a pinched nerve in the neck.
- Bulging disc surgery fixes a bulging disc in your lower back.
MISS offers more incredible benefits than open surgery. However, it is not suitable for all patients with a spine condition. There is a need to undergo a proper diagnosis with your doctor as they review your medical history to determine your suitability for Maryland minimally invasive spine surgery. If you are a good candidate, the doctor will schedule an appointment when they will perform the procedure. If you are not a good candidate for MISS, the doctor will recommend a treatment process that will work for you.
Back Conditions Maryland Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Addresses
Back pains are very common, especially in people who sit or stand for prolonged periods and in older people. Although some back pains can be managed by pain medication, others are severe, requiring more intensive treatment like surgery. Most of the spine problems that cause intense back pain are treatable with spine surgery. Thus, if you suffer from any of these conditions, you could benefit from MISS:
A Herniated Disc
Intervertebral discs are located between the spinal bones to stabilize the backbone. These discs absorb all the pressure applied to your back when standing, sitting, or walking. However, when the pressure intensifies, the discs can be damaged or ripped, resulting in a herniated or damaged disc. The damaged disc irritates or pushes your spinal nerves, causing pain and discomfort. You can experience the pain in other body parts as it radiates to the arms, legs, and shoulders.
If the herniated disc severely compresses your spinal nerves, you can experience muscle weakness and bowel or bladder incontinence. Fortunately, MISS can correct a herniated disc, relieving the pressure on the affected nerves to alleviate your pain.
Spinal Stenosis
This spinal condition occurs when the spinal canal narrows more than usual because of arthritis or other degenerative disorders. Some cases of narrowing spinal canals arise due to congenital disorders, whereby a person has a narrow canal from birth. When your spinal canal is narrow, you experience pain when walking or standing. The pain can ease when you lean forward or sit. You could also experience tingling sensations or numbness in your limbs and shoulders. Fortunately, spine surgeons can treat this condition today using MISS.
Sciatica
This is a condition that causes pain in your back. The pain radiates from the back to the neck and sometimes to the buttocks and legs. The condition occurs when a sciatica nerve on your back becomes compressed. The sciatica nerve causes sensations in the legs. If the nerve experiences more than usual pressure, you experience excruciating pain. You experience pain on one side of your body, where the compressed nerve sits. A severe case of sciatica can impact your bowel and bladder functions. Thus, there is a need to seek immediate treatment once you experience some of these symptoms.
Infections in the Spine
A bacterial infection is a grave condition affecting more than one body part. It causes fever and pain, and the symptoms can worsen each day. An infection in the spine can occur after open back surgery, whereby your back’s inner structures are left bare to harmful infection-causing elements like fungus and bacteria. Some common spine infections that spine surgeons in Maryland deal with include discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, and epidural abscesses.
Some people are at a higher risk of contracting a spine infection than others. For example, diabetes, cancer, and HIV increase your risk of infection. If you were recently treated for a spine condition or were in an accident that injured your back, and you experience pain and fever, you should see a doctor right away. You could benefit from Maryland minimally invasive spine surgery before the infection spreads to the rest of your body.
How MISS Procedures are Performed in Maryland
The spine is a sensitive organ that requires proper handling, especially when treating a spine condition. Only surgeons with specialized training are licensed to offer surgical treatments for spinal conditions. Spine surgeons offering MISS require additional training to understand the latest tools and techniques for treating patients without performing open surgeries. Your spine is a susceptible organ that is highly protected. The spinal discs, nerves, and bones are the most delicate organs in the body. Thus, a spine surgeon needs proper skills and experience to access the site without damaging soft tissues and other underlying structures in your back.
Treatment using minimally invasive technologies starts with the surgeon making a minor cut on the back to reach the treatment area. This follows a proper diagnosis to determine the spinal condition requiring treatment and the exact treatment site. The surgeon inserts a retractor in the cut to make a tunnel to the treatment area. They will use the tunnel to insert the surgical tools needed to fix the problem that is causing your spine condition.
Spine surgeons performing Maryland minimally invasive spine surgery use different treatment techniques. The exact technique they will use on you depends on the spine condition causing your backache and other symptoms. The retractor the surgeon inserts at the beginning of the treatment dilates the underlying tissues and creates a passage to the treatment area. The surgeon uses tubes to minimize muscle movement. They could use an endoscope to view the treatment site.
The treatment entails inserting tools to destabilize, decompress, or stimulate spinal nerves. The spine surgeon uses X-ray pictures to guide the treatment site through the small cut on the back. Once they have corrected the problem causing your back pain, the surgeon removes all the tools, allowing your tissues to return to their usual position. The surgeon will stitch your back where they made the incision to allow it to heal.
The Benefits Maryland Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Offers
Many people fear surgical treatment and will not agree to it even if it is the best treatment for their condition. Spine surgery is terrifying because of the sensitive nature of the spine and the surrounding structures. The risk of infections, excessive bleeding, and long recovery periods are among the many reasons people are skeptical about open surgeries. Thus, spine surgeons only recommend open-back surgery as the last option when other treatments fail. Minimally invasive surgery is advantageous over open surgery in many ways, including the following:
It Reduces the Risk of Complications
The risk of complications is high with open spine surgeries because surgeons cut open your back, exposing your internal structures to harmful external elements. There is also excessive bleeding with open surgeries. These complications prolong your recovery. Some people do not recover after open surgery. This explains why many people would opt for alternative treatments and not surgical treatments.
However, MISS entails a small cut on the back that does not expose the back’s external elements. This reduces the risk of infections and results in less bleeding. The small incision also takes a relatively short time to heal. This is why MISS is gaining popularity in Maryland. People with spine conditions can undergo treatment and not worry about complications.
It Leaves Minimal Scarring
Open spine surgeries entail cutting open the back to access the treatment area. The cut is usually significant to ensure the surgeon has complete access to the treatment area. This leaves massive scarring, even after complete healing. Some people are not able to live with that kind of scarring and have to undergo plastic surgery for an improved back appearance.
A minor incision made during MISS leaves minimal scarring that does not affect your look or feel. The scar reduces significantly after healing and does not affect your self-image. People who undergo minimally invasive surgeries do not require additional treatment to minimize the scarring.
No Need For Lengthy Hospital Stays
Minimally invasive surgery is quick and does not require lengthy hospital stays. There is no need for hospitalization before treatment. Also, you will only stay in the hospital for a day or two after the procedure. This saves you time and money. It also favors people who prefer recovering at home over hospitals. Sometimes, spine surgeons perform these procedures in outpatient settings without requiring you to be admitted to the hospital first.
Recovery after MISS is also fast. You can resume your daily tasks almost immediately after the operation. A quick recovery after a long time of experiencing excruciating back pain also means you will be free of pain in no time.
Find a Skilled Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon
If your back pain does not improve with pain medication or rest, your physician can recommend surgery to correct the spine condition causing it. However, open back surgery is risky, as it could result in excessive bleeding, infection, and other complications. Thus, we recommend minimally invasive spine surgery at LAMIS. We recommend MISS because it is less painful, takes a short time, does not require hospitalization, and allows quick recovery. Call us at 310-734-6088 to learn more about our MISS service in Maryland.
