Minimally invasive surgery refers to surgical techniques that try to minimize the disruption and damage of soft tissues surrounding the spine including muscles, ligaments and other tissue. Our neurosurgeons at Penn utilize minimally invasive surgical techniques for all types of conditions including spinal tumors, adult spinal deformity, degenerative disorders and herniated disc disorders. We go this route for surgery when possible because it minimizes the disruption of muscles and surrounding tissues, which then allows the patient to experience less pain than they would with a more traditional surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery entails the use of a small tube with a microscope that is used to perform surgery. Through the use of small metal tubes inserted through the skin down to the bone, surgeons are able to move the muscle out of the way, then operate through the small tube (approximately 20 millimeters (2 cm) in diameter) precisely at the surgical site. When the surgery is finished and the tubes are pulled away, the muscle falls back into place, where it was originally. When appropriate, our specialists may perform minimally invasive instrumentation. This technique involves screws that are placed with fluoroscopy or image guidance over guide wires through a small incision.