Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) refers to a group of surgical techniques that treat spine conditions with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues, muscles, and bones. MISS uses advanced surgical instruments, special retractors, Xray guidance, and specialised techniques to get to the spine through smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery.
The goals of MISS are to reduce trauma to the tissues around the spine and reduce blood loss. MISS techniques may reduce postoperative pain, shorten hospital stays, and speed up recovery. Common MISS procedures include:
- Microdiscectomy: Removes a portion of a herniated or damaged disc that is pressing on the spinal cord or spinal nerves and causing pain and other symptoms. Using specialised instruments and a microscope or endoscope (camera) to magnify and light up the area for the surgery, the surgeon can get to the disc through a small incision.
- Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion: Fuses two or more vertebrae as described for Spinal Fusion Surgery. Using specialised instruments and a microscope or endoscope (camera) to magnify and light up the area for the surgery, the surgeon can get to the spine through small incisions to place bone grafts, screws, rods, or cages for fusion.
- Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: These minimally invasive procedures are used to treat vertebral compression fractures, often caused by osteoporosis or trauma. In vertebroplasty, cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to stabilize it. Kyphoplasty is similar but a balloon is used to create space before injection of the cement.
- Endoscopic Spine Surgery: An endoscope is a thin tube with a camera and a light which can be used to get to the spine and see in detail. It can be used for discectomy, laminectomy, or fusion surgery. The surgeon makes small incisions and inserts the endoscope to get to, and treat, the spine.
MISS offers potential advantages over traditional open surgery, such as reduced tissue damage, less scarring, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays. However, not all spinal conditions or patients are suitable for MISS. The decision for MISS is made on a case-by-case basis.