Minimally Invasive Laminectomy Surgery

If you have just been diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, or a Herniated Disc, you probably have a thousand things running through your mind. Many of these thoughts may focus on the reality that you may need to have surgery. But, it should put you at ease to know that minimally invasive laminectomy surgery to treat these conditions that cause chronic lower back pain and leg pain, has come a long way from the days of traditional back surgery.

For starters, you can say goodbye to spending three or four days in the hospital, because minimally invasive laminectomy is an outpatient procedure. The purpose of a laminectomy is to take pressure off of the compressed spinal nerves, or spinal stenosis, that is causing your back pain. It may be hard to believe that such a painful condition can be treated by undergoing a procedure that takes less than an hour, but that’s one of the main advantages of Minimally Invasive Laminectomy.

In addition, the procedure “can be performed through incisions that are less than half an inch long and require just a BAND-AID^®,” said Dr. Mark C. Valente, board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon and founder and Medical Director of the DISC Spine Institute.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Laminectomy Surgery

Additional benefits of this minimally invasive procedure include “less operative time, less anesthesia and less blood loss,” they said. There are also no sutures, patients can be up and walking almost immediately after and “return to work and back to a pain-free lifestyle quicker than traditional surgery.”

Decompression using a traditional or open Laminectomy is a longer and more invasive procedure that increases the recovery time. There is also greater potential for trauma to the body, including damage to the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. By using specialized instruments and technological advancements, surgeons performing Minimally Invasive Laminectomy can access the affected area without cutting soft tissue, which means there is: less pain following surgery; a lower risk of infection; a lower likelihood of segmental instability, a known risk factor for traditional surgery: an easier healing period; and a much lower incidence of repeat surgical procedures, which are far more common when having open surgery.

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Finding the Right Laminectomy Surgeon

Finding the right spine specialist before undergoing minimally invasive laminectomy is key. Minimally invasive procedures overall are the fastest-growing segment of spinal surgery, yet, currently, only about 10% of spine surgeons are qualified to perform this type of procedure. Dr. Valente is a specialist in minimally invasive procedures who is recognized for his extensive specialized training and his leadership in the field.

Additionally, his unwavering commitment to a minimally invasive approach always guides his treatment plans. Before recommending any surgical procedure, Dr. Valente explores more conservative treatments that may provide patients with relief without going under the knife.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques mean treating chronic back pain is easier than ever, with outpatient treatments, small incisions, and a quicker recovery time instead of an extended hospital stay.

For more information about Minimally Invasive Laminectomies and to seek treatment, contact DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments, the most effective medical procedures to treat and eliminate chronic back pain today.