Minimally invasive spine surgery is a modern method surgeons use to perform spine surgery. With traditional spine surgery, surgeons would make a single, long incision to reveal the treatment site. The process involves retracting a large area of muscles and tissues, causing extensive tissue damage. This could cause more postoperative pain in a patient. With Missouri minimally invasive surgery, a surgeon makes a single or several small incisions. The tiny incisions make entry sites for an endoscope and other surgical instruments. The surgeon works through the tiny incisions, causing less tissue and muscle damage. Patients have a shorter stay in the hospital and recover faster. You will also experience less postoperative pain. If you need high-quality minimally invasive spine surgery services, contact LAMIS.
Types of Missouri Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
The following are common types of minimally invasive spine surgery:
Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a surgery that enlarges the area around one of the compressed nerves in a patient's spinal column. You can require foraminotomy because of blockages, which narrow the spinal column. These blockages are known as foraminal stenosis or spinal stenosis. The conditions that could lead to stenosis include:
- Tumors or cysts
- Congenital problems like dwarfism
- Skeletal diseases like Paget disease
- Slippage of one vertebra over another, and
- Enlargement of the nearby ligaments
Foraminotomy has the following risks:
- Complications from anesthesia
- Stroke
- The need for subsequent surgery
- Symptoms and signs that persist after surgery
- Damage to the spinal cord and
- Nerve damage
Tumor Resection
It is rare for tumors to grow in the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues. If it happens, the tumors are often benign and do not go beyond the spinal column. Tumors could exert pressure on the spine because of their location and cause significant neurological issues. This is why your surgeon could recommend a tumor resection. Resection surgery can be performed on several spinal tumors, including Schwannomas, Neurofibromas, and Meningiomas.
Your surgeon will make an incision over the tumor and dissect the soft tissues during the procedure to expose the back of the spine. The surgeon will then expose the spinal cord and nerves and remove the tumor.
Compression Fracture Repairs
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are minimally invasive surgeries used to treat vertebral compression fractures of the spine. Injury and osteoporosis can cause compression fractures. They can lead to a humped spine if left untreated. A spine surgeon can restore the vertebra height with a balloon and inject cement into the fractured bone. You will recover faster and face less risk of future fractures.
The general complications of any procedure include reactions to anesthesia, blood clots, infection, and bleeding. However, the common complications related to compression fracture repairs are nerve damage and bone cement leakage.
Corpectomy
Cervical corpectomy is a Missouri minimally invasive spine surgery that removes vertebral bone and intervertebral disc material. The surgery is performed to relieve pain caused by stress on the spinal nerves in the neck and spinal cord. Your surgeon can access the cervical spine from the front. Spinal fusion is usually necessary given the amount of disc material or vertebral bone that has to be removed to reduce pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
You could be a good candidate for this procedure if you exhibit weakness in the arms and hands, tingling, or pins and needles. Nerve compression in the cervical spine causes weakness and numbness in the hands, shoulders, and arms.
Cyberknife
Cyberknife is a noninvasive procedure for non-cancerous and cancerous tumors and other conditions where radiation therapy is indicated. It is used to treat conditions in different parts of the body, including the spine, neck, head, and brain. Cyberknife treatments are performed in one to five sessions. This procedure is the only radiation delivery surgery that features a linear accelerator mounted directly on a robot to deliver the high-energy X-rays used in radiation therapy.
Discectomy
Lumbar discectomy is a procedure performed to fix a bulging disk in the lower back. This procedure involves making tiny incisions rather than an open lumbar discectomy. The surgeon then takes out part of the damaged disk during a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy. This reduces the pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots.
A surgeon can insert a small tube through the skin on the patient's back, between the vertebrae, into the space with the herniated disk. The surgeon will then insert small tools through the tube to remove a section of the disk.
If you have a herniated disk in your lower back that is causing symptoms, your surgeon can recommend this procedure. Some of the symptoms include:
- Tingling in the back area and one of your legs
- Pain
- Lasting weakness
Laminectomy
Laminectomy is a procedure that creates space by removing bone spurs and tissues related to spine arthritis. This surgery often involves removing a small piece of the vertebrae's back part (lamina). Laminectomy makes the spinal canal large to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This procedure is commonly performed as part of decompression surgery. The pressure is usually caused by bony overgrowth in the spinal canal. It usually occurs in individuals with arthritis in the spine.
Lumbar Disc Arthroplasty
A lumbar disc arthroplasty is a back or Missouri minimally invasive spine surgery that involves disc replacement. This procedure involves replacing a degenerated or worn disc in the lower part of your spine. Your surgeon can use an artificial disc made of metal or a combination of plastic and metal.
Lumbar disc replacement is an alternative to the more common spinal fusion surgery. Fusion permanently joins two vertebrae together. This major procedure requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay.
Some of the risks associated with lumbar disc arthroplasty include:
- Implant loosening or wear
- Stiffness or rigidity of the spine
- Injury to nearby nerves
- Implant failure
- Dislocation of the artificial disc
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a surgery that involves injecting special cement into a patient's vertebrae, with the additional step of creating space for the balloon vertebroplasty treatment. This procedure can relieve pain and restore a damaged vertebra's height. Your doctor could recommend kyphoplasty if you suffer from cancer-damaged vertebrae or certain spinal fractures. In most situations, weakening the bones could cause the vertebrae to collapse or compress, causing pain or a hunched posture.
Some of the risks associated with kyphoplasty include:
- Cement leaking out of position
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling because of nerve damage
- Increased back pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
Resection of Synovial Cyst
Synovial cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop in the facet joints of the lumbar spine or lower back. Fluid can build up and create a cyst when age-related degeneration affects the facet joints. Synovial cysts are benign but can get large enough to protrude into the spinal canal. They could narrow the space in which the nerves travel, a condition called spinal stenosis. The cysts could put pressure on the nerves when this happens. You could feel pain in the lower back, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.
Your surgeon can recommend this procedure to remove the cyst if your pain is chronic and severe enough to affect your daily activities. This procedure has less postoperative pain and a quick recovery.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a standard Missouri minimally invasive spine surgery performed to correct problems with the small bones in the spine. It is a welding process that joins together two or more vertebrae so that they heal into a single, firm bone. Your surgeon could perform spinal fusion to eliminate painful motion or restore stability to the spine.
Your doctor can only book you for this surgery after identifying the source of your pain. Doctors can use imaging tests like MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays.
The possible complications of spinal fusion could include:
- Recurrence of symptoms
- Pain at the bone graft site
- Blood clots
- Bleeding
- Poor wound healing
- Infection, and
- Injury to blood vessels or nerves in and around the spine
Spinal Instrumentation
Also known as spinal implants, spinal instrumentation involves using surgical procedures to implant stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy into the spine. Spinal instrumentation offers permanent spinal stability. This procedure also treats spinal deformity and bridges the space created by removing the intervertebral disc.
Some of the risks associated with spinal instrumentation include:
- Failure of vertebral fusion
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Injury to adjacent organs, blood vessels, or nerves
- Persistent pain
- Bone graft migration
- Hardware failure
- Bleeding
- Anesthetic reactions
Preparing For Missouri Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Whether you are to undergo minimally invasive or conventional surgery, you must consider several factors before any type of spinal procedure to ensure the surgery and recovery run smoothly. It is necessary to have a thorough knowledge of your unique condition and the procedure you will be undergoing. You should also ensure that you are in the best health possible.
Each procedure and condition is unique to the patient, and so are the requirements for preparation and recovery. The actions you take to prepare for a minimally invasive spine procedure will depend on the surgery you are set to undergo. You would require a longer recovery time if you underwent major surgery. A major surgery could also significantly impact your daily life while you recover, compared to a minor surgery. In whichever case, certain things should be done while preparing in the days, weeks, and months leading to surgery.
Preparing Your Body
Avoid taking tobacco products. Smoking before surgery is not recommended because it could lead to a sub-optimal surgical outcome. It could put you at a higher risk of longer recovery times, increased scarring, extended ventilator care, and other health problems.
Avoid taking alcohol before surgery. Alcohol significantly delays wound healing, increases bleeding, and interferes with anesthesia and other medications. Avoiding or reducing alcohol use could help speed up your recovery and prevent the risk of developing complications after the surgery.
You should eat a balanced diet. Protein-rich foods and specific nutrients can help your body's natural healing process. Reach out to a medical expert for personal dietary advice. You should also do regular exercise in the time leading up to surgery. Being physically fit reduces the risk of complications and can help you recover faster, allowing you to return to your daily activities faster.
Manage other health issues according to your primary healthcare provider's recommendations. Visit your dentist to care for any dental problems and perform routine cleanings before the surgery.
Preparing Your Home
Preparing your home for your return is important because it contributes to a smooth recovery. You should put high-lying items at standing height because you could be restricted from pulling, pushing, twisting, lifting, and bending. You should ensure special equipment like long-handle reachers, shower chairs, and walkers is set up, easily accessible, and ready to use.
You should also hire someone to assist you with household chores like cleaning, yard work, and shopping. You should avoid these duties for some weeks to months after the surgery. You should also avoid driving in the first few days after surgery. It is, therefore, essential to complete things like grocery shopping and errands in advance.
You should also put daily essentials like toiletries, shoes, and clothing at a suitable height that you can easily reach without bending over. Purchase easy-to-prepare foods or prepare healthy meals ahead of time.
The Day Of Surgery
Shower at night or in the morning before the Missouri minimally invasive surgery. This will reduce the risk of infection. Patients are advised not to take a shower after the surgery. You should observe proper hygiene to reduce the risk of infection. As your doctor has recommended, you should also avoid eating or drinking anything before the surgery.
Leave all valuables, like jewelry, at home. Put on comfortable and easy-to-change clothing. If you spend the night at the hospital, bring a clean change of clothes and any necessary toiletries.
Find an Experienced Spine Surgeon Near Me
If you have persistent back pain or discomfort, you could be a good candidate for Missouri minimally invasive spine surgery. At LAMIS, we offer exceptional yet affordable minimally invasive spine surgery services. It does not matter how complicated your back condition is. Our surgeons have the skills and experience to handle your condition. Contact us at 310-734-6088 to speak to one of our surgeons.
