Why are there fewer complications with minimally invasive spinal surgeries? January 17th, 2019 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine Surgery scott A quicker surgical procedure. Less blood loss. A smaller incision. A faster recovery. These are all reasons why minimally invasive spinal surgeries (MIS) are surging in popularity. Another main advantage of this type of spinal surgery, which is a byproduct of all of those other benefits, is the lower complication rate. “As opposed to open spine surgery, minimally invasive surgical approaches can be faster, safer and require less recovery time,” said the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). A smaller surface area Part of the reason for the lower complication rate of minimally invasive spinal surgeries is that you’re dealing with a smaller surgical area. Traditional open surgeries generally require a five- to six-inch incision (or larger), whereas incisions can be as small as a few millimeters when going the minimally invasive route. “Open surgery means that the area being operated on is opened with a long incision to allow the surgeon to view and access the anatomy,” said the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). “In recent years, however, technological advances have allowed more back and neck conditions to be treated with a minimally invasive surgical technique. Because minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), does not involve a long incision, it avoids significant damage to the muscles surrounding the spine. Reduced trauma to the anatomy The way that minimally invasive spinal surgeries are performed also minimizes trauma to the body. Open spinal surgeries typically require muscles to be cut so that the surgeon can see and access the area that needs to be repaired or removed. During minimally invasive spinal surgeries, the muscles are instead moved aside; this drastically reduces the risk of postoperative tissue damage and related complications. “Because of the reduced trauma to the muscles and soft tissues (compared to open procedures), the potential benefits” include a “reduced risk of infection,” said AANS, as well as a lower likelihood of muscle injury, and significantly less blood loss, all of which can contribute to the lower complication rate for patients. The AAOS adds that this also typically “results in less pain after surgery and a faster recovery.” A research article in the Journal of Spine also emphasized the importance of the “low soft tissue damage resulting from minimally invasive surgery techniques” in a study focusing on MIS lumbar fusions. The study on elderly and obese patients with degenerative lumbar disease found that, the “smaller approach helps to minimize infections and wound healing disorders. Moreover, deeper regions of wounds are clearly visualized with the aid of tubular retractors” that are used in these MIS procedures. Anesthesia-related complications Many who have qualms about undergoing a surgical procedure are focused on the effects of anesthesia. Shorter operations mean less anesthetic is needed. And, “some MIS surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures and utilize only local anesthesia—so there is less risk for an adverse reaction to general anesthesia,” said AANS. When it’s time to put an end to your pain, visit DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments, the most effective medical procedures to treat and eliminate chronic back pain today. 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 a long hospital stay.
