Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Since minimally invasive spine surgery is an extremely advanced technical procedure, it is critical that your selection criteria of a specialized surgeon include both the experience and skill to perform the procedure safely and effectively. The Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s spine specialists are dedicated to continuing their knowledge of all up-to-date procedures and many are personally involved in assisting with the creation of these new technologies.

If you have chronic back pain that has not responded to nonsurgical treatments, minimally invasive spine surgery may be a solution for you. Unlike an open spine procedure, minimally invasive spine surgery combines technological advances with state-of-the-art practices that reduce both the size of your incision as well as your hospital stay. Certain spine conditions respond very positively to this procedure as opposed to many conventional open spine surgeries. Minimally invasive spine surgery involves fewer risks than open spine surgeries.

The following is a list of some of the most common spine conditions that will respond positively to minimally invasive spine surgery.

Common Spine Conditions:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated discs
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal infections
• Spinal Stenosis
• Spinal tumors
• Spondylolisthesis

The following information gives you with an overview of each of the three types of minimally invasive spine surgeries. The Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s spine specialist will discuss with you available in more detail and help suggest the one that’s right for you.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries:

An endoscope (a miniature video recorder) is routed through a small incision to allow your surgeon to capture a visual of your spine. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons notes that this procedure is frequently called a “keyhole surgery” since the endoscope provides the surgeon with a view of your internal area on an external screen in the operating room.

Mini-open: This procedure is most comparable to an open spine surgery, but the incision is much smaller for reduced risks. Continuous innovative developments with visualization make the mini-open procedure an option.

Tubular: A tubular retractor is inserted into your mini-incision and is designed to create a cylinder-like opening to your spine. Your surgeon utilizes small tools that fit through the retractor remove any affected areas as well as inserting any necessary healing devices through it. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute surgeon may use a fluoroscopy to examine real-time images of your spine on an operating room screen.

If you are considering minimally invasive spine surgery, it’s always best to schedule a consultation with one of Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s board-certified and fellowship trained spine specialists. The following are some of the benefits you can expect if minimally invasive spine surgery is recommended.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Benefits:

• Reduced scarring
• A smaller amount of damage to your soft tissue and muscles
• Fewer incisions
• A quicker recovery
• Decreased hospital stay or, on occasion, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis
• A lower amount of anesthesia
• Reduced pain associated with recovery
• Less possibility of developing an infection

To speed your recovery, physical therapy is an important post-operative component. At Florida Orthopaedic Institute, we offer a wide variety of locations in the Tampa Bay area for your convenience.

With any surgical procedure, there are certain risks. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute spine surgeon will discuss these procedures in detail with you and address any of your questions or concerns. We encourage you to research our board-certified spine surgeons’ experience, including videos on this subject matter, via the profiles below.