Minimally Invasive Surgery for Back and Neck Conditions

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. Penn spine surgeons are able to perform minimally invasive surgical techniques for all types of conditions including spinal tumors, adult spinal deformity, degenerative disorders and herniated disc disorders.

Minimally invasive surgery entails the use of a small tube with a microscope 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, surgeons may perform minimally invasive instrumentation. This technique involves screws that are placed with fluoroscopy or image guidance over guide wires through a small incision.

The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery 

Because minimally invasive surgeries reduce the disruption of muscles and surrounding tissues, you experience less pain than you would with more invasive surgery. Patients also experience less blood loss, faster recovery periods and shorter hospital stays, which often means you can go home on the same day. For individuals with cancer, the smaller incisions allow you to heal faster, so you can quickly receive other vital treatments (such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc).

Minimally invasive surgery is an optimal goal to aim for whenever possible, but there are some conditions which just aren't appropriate for it. For these conditions, a more traditional surgical approach may be the best way to treat your condition.